Immigration To The American South Far Exceeds Migration To Other Parts Of The Country

(NewsSpace.com) – Immigrants from around the world have long sought to come to the United States, seeking a better quality of life. Where in the past, they would settle across the country, it seems in recent decades, they’ve preferred the American South. A recent report indicates that mass migration, both legal and illegal, has disproportionately affected this region.

On June 28, the Center for Immigration Studies released the findings of a recent analysis that examines where migrants have settled over the past few decades. It cites US Census data noting that there are 19 million foreign-born people living in the South, a 317% increase since the 1990s. In the last 14 years, it’s grown by 49%.

The most impacted area is North Carolina, which has seen a 966% growth in its foreign-born population, followed by a 754% growth in Georgia and a 329% increase in Virginia. The South now accounts for more than 37% of the foreign-born population in the country. In 1990, that figure was just 23.2%. The second-largest foreign-born population is in the West, which accounts for 31.3%. The Midwest is the lowest at 11.3%.

Compared to 1990, when only two states had more than 500,000 foreign-born people counted in their population, Florida and Texas, there are now four additional states that have hit that benchmark. These are Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Those largely unimpacted include Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia.

Other regions have seen significant growth, too. The Midwest is second with 172% growth, then there’s the West and Northeast trailing behind at third and fourth, at 104% and 94%, respectively.

The demographic shift could have a significant impact on the political landscape, particularly in the realm of immigration policies. Southern states, especially Texas and Florida, have already taken on the federal government, accusing the Biden Administration of not having adequate policies in place to protect Americans. Millions of migrants have poured over the border since President Joe Biden took office and reversed many of his predecessor’s policies through sweeping executive orders.