US President Donald Trump recently launched an intensive crackdown on illegal immigrants as part of his pre-election agenda.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over 900 arrests have so far been made in the ongoing crackdown.
Several federal agencies with newly expanded detention powers were involved in the raids in many cities including Chicago, Newark and Miami.
Immediate former President Joe Biden is said to have carried out an average of 311 immigration deportations daily, mostly individuals who had committed crimes.
The exact number of people who end up as illegal immigrants in the US is complex to pin down due to the various ways they may end up there without legal authorisation.
The US Department of Homeland Security estimated that 11 million illegal migrants were living in the US as of January 2022.
These are some of the factors contributing to this.
Expired visas
The most common way people become undocumented in the US is by overstaying a visa.
Many arrive in the US legally on tourist, student, or work visas but once the visa expires, they remain in the country without proper authorisation.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, a large percentage of the undocumented population falls into this category.
It is estimated that around 40-50 per cent of unauthorised immigrants have overstayed their visas.
Entering without inspection
The vast majority of people who cross the US border are citizens of nearby countries who enter without inspection or authorization.
While border enforcement has increased over the years, people still find ways to enter the US illegally.
This is normally done with the help of smugglers or by crossing into remote areas of the border.
Path to legalization
While the legal immigration system in the US is straightforward, it is sometimes slow due to various factors.
They include backlogs, number of applications, budget cuts, and staffing issues at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field office processing your case.
This often leaves people stranded for years as they wait for approval.
Those stuck in long backlogs for green cards or work permits might live in the country for extended periods, contributing to the number of individuals who are technically undocumented but have been living in the US for a long time.
The fastest path to US citizenship could be marrying a US citizen.
If you are a green card holder married to a US citizen, you can apply for naturalization after just three years of permanent residency instead of the usual five.
Family-based and employment-based sponsorship issues
Some individuals may come to the US legally through family or employment-based visas but end up falling out of status due to delays in paperwork processing, denied extensions, or changes in their employment situation.
These individuals may still remain in the country but without the necessary documentation, leading them to become undocumented.
