Archive · 27 Jul 2026
US Immigration Shifts: Asia Now Leading Source
The US has seen a big change in where immigrants come from over the past 250 years.
A long time ago, most immigrants came from Europe.
But now, more immigrants come from Asia and Latin America.
This change started after a law in 1965 that made it easier for people from different countries to move to the US.
Today, about one in three immigrants in the US comes from Asia, and more than half come from Latin America.
This is a big shift from the past when most immigrants were from Europe.
Europe was the primary source of US immigrants until the mid-20th century.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended the national-origins quota system.
Asian immigration surged after the Vietnam War and due to increased demand for skilled workers.
Asians now make up 30.8% of the foreign-born population in the US.
Latin America accounts for 51.4% of the foreign-born population in the US.
- Who
- US Census Bureau
- What
- Analysis of US immigration trends over 250 years.
- When
- Data collected from 1850 to 2024.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- To understand the demographic shifts in the US foreign-born population.
Pro-Immigration Reform
Restrictionist Views
Immigration Policy Impact
Pro-Immigration Reform
Supports policies that promote family reunification and employment-based migration.
Restrictionist Views
Advocates for stricter immigration controls and prioritization of national security.
- Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
- Ended national-origins quota system, prioritized family reunification, employment-based migration, and refugee admissions.
- Foreign-Born Population in 1850
- 2.2 million, 9.7% of the US population.
- Foreign-Born Population in 2024
- 50.2 million, 14.8% of the US population.
- Asian Immigrants in 1970
- 8.9% of the foreign-born population.
- Asian Immigrants in 1980
- 19.3% of the foreign-born population.
- Asian Immigrants in 2024
- 30.8% of the foreign-born population.
- Latin American Immigrants in 2024
- 51.4% of the foreign-born population.
- Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
- First major federal law to restrict immigration based on nationality.