Separately, in an appeal sent to the U.S. for its landmark anniversary, Leo said the Catholic value of defending life includes “welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants.”
“To receive (immigrants) with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the dignity that belongs to every human person,” he told the United States.
Not clear what he means when you look at the data:
- In 2025, 15.8% of the US population was foreign born.
- About 40% of the US population was foreign born or has at least one parent who is an immigrant.
- About 60% of the U.S. population was foreign born, or has at least one parent or grandparent that is an immigrant.
- These are the highest levels in U.S. history since the country was founded.
To suggest that the U.S. is not adequately supporting immigration is a lie.
The above data comes from my own research available on my Coldstreams.com/travel blog.
I asked Gemini AI to confirm these estimates.
1. The 15.8% Foreign-Born Estimate (First Generation)
In January 2025, data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) showed that the foreign-born population reached a historic high of 53.3 million people, or 15.8% of the U.S. population.
Note: This marked the highest proportion of immigrants ever recorded in U.S. history, slightly eclipsing the previous records from the late 19th century (14.8% in 1890). Due to shifting net migration patterns throughout 2025 and into 2026, that percentage has fluctuated slightly downward toward 15.4%, but 15.8% remains the benchmark high for early 2025.
2. The 40% Estimate (First + Second Generation)
This represents immigrants plus the “second generation” (U.S.-born children with at least one immigrant parent).
- Broad demographic breakdowns track that the first and second generations combined historically sit right around 26% to 28% of the total population (translating to roughly 93+ million people).
- However, when looking closely at younger demographics, major urban areas, or specific adult age groups, that number frequently crosses the 40% threshold. For example, in U.S. higher education and among K-12 students, first- and second-generation individuals make up nearly 35% to 40% of the population.
3. The 60% Estimate (First + Second + Third Generation)
When you extend the scope to the “third generation” (having at least one immigrant grandparent), the 60% estimate holds up very well conceptually.
- Because the U.S. went through a massive immigration wave from roughly 1965 onward (following the Immigration and Nationality Act), millions of second-generation children born in the 1970s and 1980s have grown up and had children of their own.
- If you trace anyone who has at least one foreign-born grandparent, you capture a massive swath of the modern U.S. population. When combined with the massive immigration waves from Europe in the early 20th century (whose descendants are now fourth- or fifth-generation), it underscores just how thoroughly the “immigrant background” shapes the U.S. populace.
More than half of the country is only a couple of steps removed from a family member who moved to the U.S. from abroad.
For comparison, in 1970, just 4.7% of the U.S. population was foreign born. In 1924, the U.S. established a “quota” system on immigration that resulted in sharply reduced immigration from about 1930 to 1965. A large number of immigrants arrived before 1930 – but many/most had passed way by 1970 and comparatively few new immigrants after 1930. Congress passed a new law in 1965 that opened up immigration again – and 1970 was about when immigration started to ramp up again in the U.S.
Today, the U.S. has the highest number of immigrants or closely related immigrant in history. To suggest the US is immigrant unfriendly is not true.
