For answers to the most common questions about U.S. immigration, see our Quick Statistics on U.S. immigration. For more context, search the , which contains more than 1,300 studies from respected research institutions across the United States. One such respected institution is the Institute for Immigration Research, a joint venture between The Immigrant Learning Center and George Mason University. If you’re looking for some more specific data, you can request a free, . If you want to stay updated on The Immigrant Learning Center’s research, webinars and other projects, sign up for our newsletter.
Featured Research from The ILC Immigration Research Library
US Foreign-Born Workers in the Global Pandemic: Essential and Marginalized
This report provides detailed estimates of foreign-born (immigrant) workers in the United States who are employed in “essential critical infrastructure” sectors, as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (DHS 2020). Building on earlier work by the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), the article offers exhaustive estimates on essential workers on a national level, by state, for large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), and for smaller communities that heavily rely on immigrant labor. It also reports on these workers by job sector; immigration status; eligibility for tax rebates under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); and other characteristics.
Institute for Immigration Research
The Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), a joint venture between The Immigrant Learning Center and George Mason University, produces interdisciplinary research on immigrants and immigration to the United States. Projects include Immigrant Nobel Prize Winners, mapping immigrant populations, surveys of high-skilled immigrant professionals, Twitter analyses of the immigration discussion and more. The IIR also offers free customized datasheets through .
Latest Research: Leading Through Creativity and Innovation: The 2020 Nobel Laureates, MacArthur and Schmidt Science Fellows, and Immigrant Scientists in Search of a COVID-19 Vaccine
In 2020, none of the Nobel Prize winners from the United States are foreign-born individuals. However, four of this year’s 12 Laureates are foreign born and have been associated with U.S. research institutions or universities at some point in their careers. In addition, four of the 21 MacArthur Fellows and at least four of the 22 Schmidt Science Fellows are foreign born and living in the United States. Moreover, immigrants are among the scientists and researchers working to find a COVID-19 vaccine. This report profiles all of these high-achieving immigrants.
Immigration Data on Demand (iDod) provides information to academics, policy-makers and the public with unbiased and objective research related to immigrants and immigration in the United States. This service is provided free of charge to help individuals and institutions examine the immigrant populations of their particular geography.
Books
October 2019
Working Together: How Community Colleges and Their Partners Help Immigrants Succeed
Published by Rowman & Littlefield and the American Association of Community Colleges
This book showcases exemplary initiatives of community colleges and their partners to integrate immigrant and refugee students, and the ways these students enrich campus life, strengthen communities and benefit the economy. The chapter Reflective Narrative: How Community Colleges can Reframe the Immigration Narrative was written by The ILC Public Education Institute Director Denzil Mohammed.
January 2013
Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts
Published by George Mason University Press
Edited by The ILC founder and CEO Diane Portnoy, Barry Portnoy and Charlie Riggs, Immigrant Struggles, Immigrant Gifts chronicles the experience of 11 immigrant groups in the U.S. written by 11 experts in their respective fields.
Massachusetts Research
March 2012
Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers, Second Edition: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint
Full Report (PDF)
December 2005
Immigrant Homebuyers in Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts: Keys to the Revitalization of Cities
Full Report (PDF)
Entrepreneurship Research
APRIL 2013
Immigrant Entrepreneurs Creating Jobs and Strengthening the U.S. Economy in Growing Industries: Transportation, Food and Building Services
with a Regional View of Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania and a Focus on the Green Economy
Fast Facts
Full Report (PDF)
November 2010
Massachusetts Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Engines for Economic Growth, Wealth and Job Creation
Full Report (PDF)
December 2005
Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Neighborhood Revitalization: Studies of the Allston Village, East Boston and Fields Corner Neighborhoods in Boston
Full Report (PDF)
JUNE 2016
Immigrants in Health Care: Keeping Americans Healthy Through Care and Innovation
Full Report (PDF)
June 2010
Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Workers in Leisure and Hospitality Businesses: Massachusetts and New England
Full Report (PDF)
March 2009
Immigrant Workers in the Massachusetts Health Care Industry: A Report on Status and Future Prospects
Full Report (PDF)