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How many immigrants entered the United Stats under the Biden presidency?

Updated: 2025-09-06


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🤖 Claude’s Answer (Using Suggested Sources)

The number of immigrants who entered the United States under the Biden presidency varies significantly depending on how “immigrants” are defined and which data sources are used. The Biden administration, which began in January 2021, has overseen a complex period of immigration with multiple entry pathways and categories.

Overall Immigration Numbers

According to Department of Homeland Security data, approximately 10 million encounters occurred at U.S. borders between fiscal years 2021-2024 under the Biden administration [1]. However, encounters do not equal unique individuals, as some people are encountered multiple times, and not all encounters result in entry into the United States.

The Migration Policy Institute reports that the Biden administration has presided over record-high immigration levels, with both legal and unauthorized immigration reaching historic numbers [2]. The total foreign-born population in the United States reached approximately 47.8 million by 2023, representing about 14.3% of the total U.S. population [3].

Unauthorized Immigration

The Pew Research Center estimates that the unauthorized immigrant population living in the United States reached a record 14 million in 2023, up from approximately 10.5 million in 2019 [4]. This represents an increase of roughly 3.5 million during the Biden presidency, though not all of these individuals necessarily entered during this period.

The Biden administration has utilized various parole programs extensively. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, nearly 3 million individuals were paroled into the United States under Biden’s presidency through various programs [5]. These include:

Legal permanent resident admissions have averaged approximately 1 million per year during the Biden administration, consistent with pre-pandemic levels [2].

Border Encounters and Releases

House Committee on Homeland Security data indicates that millions of encounters at the southern border resulted in various outcomes, including removals, returns, and releases into the United States [1]. The exact number of individuals who successfully entered and remained in the country is difficult to determine due to factors such as:

Total Estimate

Combining various categories, a conservative estimate suggests that between 5-7 million immigrants (including both authorized and unauthorized) have entered and remained in the United States during the Biden presidency. This includes legal permanent residents, parolees, asylum seekers, and unauthorized entries. However, precise figures remain contested due to data limitations and definitional differences.

Sources

[1] House Committee on Homeland Security testimony (April 2025) - Provides official DHS encounter statistics and border security data from a congressional oversight perspective. homeland.house.gov

[2] Migration Policy Institute, “Biden’s Mixed Immigration Legacy” - Offers a balanced assessment of immigration trends under Biden, noting both restrictive and expansive policies. migrationpolicy.org

[3] U.S. Census Bureau, “Foreign-Born Population Data” (2024) - Provides official statistics on the total foreign-born population in the United States.

[4] Pew Research Center, “Record 14 Million Unauthorized Immigrants Lived in the US in 2023” - Presents research-based estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population with a focus on demographic trends. pewresearch.org

[5] Center for Immigration Studies, “Did Joe Biden Really Parole In Nearly 3 Million Aliens?” - Takes a critical view of Biden’s use of parole authority, arguing it exceeds statutory limits. cis.org


🤖 ChatGPT’s Answer (Using Suggested Sources)

Short answer: There is no single official “immigrants who entered” number. It depends on what you mean. Under President Biden (January 2021 onward), the most commonly cited metrics are:

How to interpret these numbers

Bottom line: If by “entered” you mean CBP-recorded border encounters during Biden’s tenure, the cumulative figure is on the order of 10–11 million through FY2024, with about 8.6 million at the Southwest land border alone. Of those, a few million were likely allowed into the U.S. to await proceedings (including via parole), while many others were removed or turned back; precise “admitted” counts depend on definitions and are debated among researchers [1][2][3][4][5][6].

Sources 1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), FY2023 operational update — reports “more than 3.2 million encounters nationwide” in FY2023 (official data). https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-september-2023-monthly-operational-update
View: Official, descriptive statistics of nationwide encounters.

2) CBP, Southwest Land Border Encounters — year-by-year totals for FY2021–FY2024 (official data). https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters
View: Official, descriptive statistics of Southwest border encounters (events, not individuals).

3) U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Testimony (Apr. 8, 2025) — characterizes cumulative encounters since January 2021 as exceeding 10 million and discusses related metrics (e.g., gotaways). https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-04-08-OIABSE-JHRG-Testimony.pdf
View: Critical of Biden policy; emphasizes high cumulative totals and public-safety concerns.

4) Arthur, Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), “Did Joe Biden Really Parole In Nearly 3 Million Aliens?” — argues the administration paroled in nearly 3 million people, aggregating multiple parole programs and releases. https://cis.org/Arthur/Did-Joe-Biden-Really-Parole-Nearly-3-Million-Aliens
View: Skeptical/critical; presents a high estimate for parole-based entries.

5) Migration Policy Institute (MPI), “Biden’s Mixed Immigration Legacy: Border …” — nuanced overview of Biden-era border management, parole programs (e.g., CHNV, Ukrainians, CBP One), enforcement, and removals. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/biden-immigration-legacy
View: Analytical/neutral; contextualizes flows, policies, and trade-offs rather than emphasizing a single tally.

6) Pew Research Center, “U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population Reached a Record 14 Million in 2023” — estimates the stock of unauthorized residents and its growth through 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/08/21/u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population-reached-a-record-14-million-in-2023/
View: Nonpartisan demographic estimate of the unauthorized population (net stock), not total entries.


🤖 Gemini’s Answer (Using Suggested Sources)

There is no single official number for how many immigrants entered the U.S. under the Biden presidency, as the total varies significantly depending on the category of immigration being measured. Different metrics track different populations, including unauthorized arrivals, individuals granted temporary permission to enter, and those who have obtained legal permanent residency.

A comprehensive answer requires looking at several key figures:

1. Border Encounters and Unauthorized Immigration The most frequently cited statistic is “border encounters,” which are apprehensions or expulsions of migrants by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This number does not represent the total number of unique individuals who entered the country, as one person can be apprehended multiple times.

2. Parole Programs The Biden administration has made extensive use of “humanitarian parole,” a legal authority that allows the government to grant temporary permission for individuals to enter and live in the U.S.

3. Lawful Immigration This category includes individuals who are granted lawful permanent residence (a green card) or are admitted on temporary nonimmigrant visas.

In summary, millions of people have entered the United States through various channels during the Biden presidency. The most cited figures include over 8 million border encounters (which is not a count of unique individuals), a net increase of 2.6 million in the unauthorized population from 2019 to 2023, and millions more who entered legally through parole programs or with permanent or temporary visas [2, 4, 5, 6].


Sources

  1. homeland.house.gov - A provided link to testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security was broken and could not be accessed. This source was intended to provide official testimony on immigration statistics.
  2. Did Joe Biden Really Parole In Nearly 3 Million Aliens? - The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) argues that the Biden administration has used its parole authority to an unprecedented degree, creating what it calls “lawful-but-unconstitutional” pathways for nearly 3 million people to enter the U.S. CIS advocates for lower levels of immigration and is critical of these policies. (https://cis.org/Arthur/Did-Joe-Biden-Really-Parole-Nearly-3-Million-Aliens)
  3. Biden’s Mixed Immigration Legacy: Border N.. - The Migration Policy Institute (MPI), a non-partisan think tank, presents a nuanced view, stating that the Biden administration has combined restrictive border enforcement measures with the creation of new legal pathways, such as expanded use of parole. It notes that while border encounters have reached record highs, the administration has also undertaken a “dizzying pace of new policies” to manage migration. (https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/biden-immigration-legacy)
  4. Record 14 Million Unauthorized Immigrants Lived in the US in 2023 - The Pew Research Center, a non-partisan fact tank, reports that the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population reached a new high in 2023. It provides data-driven analysis showing a significant net increase in this population since 2019, attributing the growth to a rise in border crossings. (https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2025/08/21/u-s-unauthorized-immigrant-population-reached-a-record-14-million-in-2023/)
  5. Nationwide Encounters - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides official data on its website. This government source offers raw statistics on migrant encounters at U.S. borders, broken down by month, year, and demographic. It is a primary source for border enforcement metrics. (https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters)
  6. Yearbook of Immigration Statistics - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Immigration Statistics publishes annual data on all forms of legal immigration, including lawful permanent residents and temporary visa holders. This official government source provides a detailed breakdown of legal immigration flows. (https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook)

🤖 Grok’s Answer (Using Suggested Sources)

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🤖 Claude’s Answer (Without Using Suggested Sources)

Immigration flows under the Biden presidency have been substantial and complex, involving multiple categories of migrants and various legal pathways. From January 2021 through fiscal year 2024, millions of people have entered the United States through different channels.

Border Encounters and Releases

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported approximately 10 million encounters at U.S. borders from February 2021 through September 2024 [1]. However, encounters do not equal individual immigrants, as the same person can be encountered multiple times. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that roughly 2.5 million individuals were released into the United States after border encounters from January 2021 through September 2023 [2].

During fiscal years 2021-2023, the United States admitted approximately:

Humanitarian Programs

The Biden administration has implemented several humanitarian programs:

Total Estimates

Combining all categories, credible estimates suggest that between 8-10 million foreign nationals have entered and remained in the United States under some form of legal status or pending immigration proceedings since January 2021 [2][4]. This includes those released pending immigration hearings, legal immigrants, temporary visa holders, and humanitarian parolees.

It’s important to note that these numbers include various categories with different legal statuses, and not all individuals who enter ultimately remain permanently in the United States. Many temporary visa holders, for instance, are expected to depart when their visas expire.

Sources

[1] U.S. Customs and Border Protection official statistics - CBP reports monthly and annual encounter data at all U.S. borders, providing comprehensive tracking of migration flows. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

[2] House Judiciary Committee Report (2024) - Provides analysis of DHS data on releases and total immigration flows, with a focus on border security concerns. https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases

[3] Department of Homeland Security Immigration Statistics Yearbook - Official government compilation of all legal immigration categories, presenting neutral statistical data. https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics

[4] Migration Policy Institute Analysis (2024) - Non-partisan research organization providing detailed breakdowns of various immigration programs and pathways under the current administration. https://www.migrationpolicy.org

[5] Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration - Documents the Afghan resettlement operation and ongoing refugee admissions, focusing on humanitarian aspects of immigration. https://www.state.gov/prm

🤖 ChatGPT’s Answer (Without Using Suggested Sources)

Short answer: There isn’t one single, universally accepted number. “Immigrants” can mean several different things in U.S. statistics. Below are the main ways experts and agencies count “people entering,” with the best available official totals during the Biden presidency.

What “immigrants entered” can mean, with counts

1) Lawful permanent residents (LPRs, “green card” holders) — the legal definition of “immigrant” in U.S. law

2) Refugees admitted (humanitarian admissions; not LPRs upon arrival)

3) Asylum grants inside the U.S. (people granted asylum status after applying; separate from refugees)

4) Large humanitarian parole programs (temporary permission to enter and stay)

5) Southwest border “encounters” (attempts detected by CBP between or at ports of entry, not the same as people who entered and remained) These are widely cited in public debate but are not a count of admissions, because many encounters result in removals/expulsions, and some people are counted more than once due to repeat attempts.

How to interpret this

Bottom line

Sources

  1. DHS, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2022 (Lawful Permanent Residents) — official DHS counts of LPRs show 740,002 (FY2021) and 1,018,349 (FY2022). https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2022 (see LPR tables)
  2. USCIS, Fiscal Year 2023 Progress Report — USCIS states it issued “more than 1 million” green cards in FY2023; agency progress overview. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-releases-fiscal-year-2023-progress-report
  3. U.S. State Department/Refugee Processing Center (WRAPSNET), Admissions & Arrivals — official refugee admissions by fiscal year show 11,411 (FY2021), 25,465 (FY2022), 60,014 (FY2023). https://www.wrapsnet.org/admissions-and-arrivals/
  4. DHS Office of Immigration Statistics, Annual Flow Report: Refugees and Asylees, 2022 — official DHS compilation showing 36,615 asylum grants in FY2022 (affirmative + defensive). https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/special-reports/refugees-asylees
  5. DHS Press Release, “Update on Parole Processes for Nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela” (Apr. 10, 2024) — states that more than 404,000 individuals arrived via CHNV parole since Jan. 2023. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/04/10/update-parole-processes-nationals-cuba-haiti-nicaragua-and-venezuela
  6. DHS/Interagency Fact Sheets on Operation Allies Welcome — report that more than 88,500 Afghan evacuees arrived in the U.S. via parole early in the operation. Example: DHS OAW materials summarizing arrivals. https://www.dhs.gov/allieswelcome (see program fact sheets/updates)
  7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Southwest Land Border Encounters — official monthly and annual encounter totals; FY2021: 1,734,686; FY2022: 2,378,944; FY2023: 2,475,669. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

Note on sources’ perspectives:

🤖 Gemini’s Answer (Without Using Suggested Sources)

Answering the question of how many immigrants entered the United States under the Biden presidency requires examining several different categories of entry, as there is no single, all-encompassing statistic. The total number depends on whether one is counting lawful permanent residents, individuals apprehended at the border, those who entered without detection, or people admitted through special temporary programs.

Below is a breakdown of the most relevant figures based on available data from January 20, 2021, to the most recently available statistics.

1. Encounters at the U.S. Border

This is the most frequently cited metric, but it does not represent the number of unique individuals who successfully entered and stayed in the country. “Encounters” are events, not people, and include apprehensions of individuals crossing between ports of entry and those deemed inadmissible at legal ports of entry. The same person may be counted multiple times if they attempt to cross more than once.

It is critical to note that during much of this period (until May 2023), the Title 42 public health order was in effect. This policy allowed for the rapid expulsion of many migrants, which led to a higher rate of repeat crossing attempts, inflating the total encounter numbers [2]. After Title 42 ended, encounters initially dropped but then rose again, with consequences for illegal entry shifting from simple expulsion to more severe penalties like deportation and a five-year ban on reentry [3].

2. Known “Gotaways”

“Gotaways” is an unofficial term used by Border Patrol to describe individuals who are detected crossing the border illegally but are not apprehended. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides official estimates for this group.

These figures represent the best government estimate of individuals who entered the U.S. without authorization and without being processed by immigration officials.

3. Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders)

This category includes individuals who were granted lawful permanent residence. These are the people most traditionally defined as “immigrants.” These numbers often reflect the processing of applications filed years earlier and include individuals already living in the U.S. on other visas.

The Biden administration created or expanded several humanitarian parole programs that allow individuals from specific countries to enter and remain in the U.S. temporarily. These individuals are legally present but do not have permanent resident status.

Summary

To provide a comprehensive answer, it is best to separate the categories:

These figures illustrate that immigration under the Biden administration has been characterized by historically high levels of encounters at the border, a significant number of successful irregular entries, a steady flow of lawful permanent residents, and the creation of new, large-scale parole programs to manage migration flows.


Sources

  1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “Nationwide Encounters.”
  2. American Immigration Council. “The End of Title 42: What to Know About the New Border Policies.” (May 10, 2023).
  3. Gramlich, John. “What’s happening at the U.S.-Mexico border in 7 charts.” Pew Research Center. (November 16, 2023).
  4. House Committee on Homeland Security. “‘Gotaways’ at the Border Topped 1.6 Million Under Biden, Bill Melugin reports.” (October 27, 2023).
  5. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Yearbook of Immigration Statistics.”
    • This is the official annual report from DHS that provides comprehensive data on all forms of immigration, including the number of individuals granted Lawful Permanent Resident status each fiscal year. The data for FY2022 is the most recent full report.
    • https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook
  6. Rytina, Nancy. “U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents: 2023.” Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics. (April 2024).
  7. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). “Uniting for Ukraine.”
  8. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “CBP Releases April 2024 Monthly Update.” (May 15, 2024).

🤖 Grok’s Answer (Without Using Suggested Sources)

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