More than 11 Million: Unauthorized Immigrants and Their Families – Fact sheet – María E. Enchautegui – Urban Institute, December 23, 2013

“In 2012, the population of unauthorized immigrants in the US was estimated at 11.7 million. The “11 million” has become a common reference in media and policy discussions alike. The possibility of a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants is one of the most  controversial issues in current discussions of immigration reform. But the effects of a legalization program go well beyond the 11 million, because it is certain to affect not only the undocumented but also their families. This fact sheet presents information on unauthorized immigrants’ households, putting in clear view the widespread effects of a legalization program for the currently undocumented. The family members of undocumented immigrants—the majority of whom are US-born citizens and under the age of 18—are a large but often overlooked group with a fundamental stake in legalization.  This sheet uses data from the 2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey to assign immigration status and it focuses on households containing at least  one unauthorized immigrant.”