A new report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates that nearly 17 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, a 16% rise since President Biden's inauguration. FAIR, advocating for reduced immigration levels, suggests the figure has climbed to approximately 16.8 million from 15.5 million in January 2022. This contrasts with other estimates hovering around 11 million.

The report attributes this 2.3 million increase since late 2020 to the first two years of the Biden presidency. The Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the border situation, particularly from Republicans who point to the reversal of Trump-era policies and a perceived increase in "catch-and-release" practices. The administration, however, maintains it's rebuilding a damaged asylum system and has recently emphasized stricter border measures combined with expanded legal immigration avenues.

With over 200,000 border encounters in May, the fiscal year's total has surpassed 1.6 million. The administration notes that half of May's 204,000 encounters occurred before the Title 42 public health order expired on May 11th. FAIR's definition of an "illegal alien" encompasses anyone lacking legal status, including those with temporary protections like Deferred Enforced Departure or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which the administration recently extended for roughly 330,000 individuals from four nations.

FAIR acknowledges the difficulty in accurately estimating the undocumented population, relying on Census data with an estimated 30% undercount adjustment, consistent with previous nonresponse rates for this group. They also factor in increases in the documented foreign-born population, presumed to contain a larger proportion of undocumented individuals due to border security concerns and expanded immigration parole programs.

The report links the population increase to relaxed border policies, post-COVID hiring surges, and Biden administration policies that incentivize migration, such as parole and increased Notices to Appear. It also mentions restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), currently subject to legal challenges. The Biden administration blames Congressional Republicans for the border situation, advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, while Republicans oppose the proposed pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.