The U.S. Census Bureau is implementing changes in how it counts immigrants in its annual estimates by now including more individuals who were admitted for humanitarian reasons, a move aimed at better reflecting population shifts in the current decade. This adjustment will be reflected in the upcoming release of population estimates on Thursday, showcasing changes in the U.S. and state populations for the year. However, the revised methodology for counting immigrants will only impact national figures.
In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born U.S. residents reached its highest level in over a century, and this figure may rise further with the new counting approach. Census Bureau officials did not disclose the expected increase in immigration figures due to the change.
