To classify states by migrant-friendliness, this study used a qualitative scoring system based on a consolidated combination of multiple publicly available datasets: www.tracreports.org, www.nilc.org, and www.ice.org. Each state was evaluated using a mix of policy indicators, federal enforcement metrics, and service access variables.
Every year, migrants come to the U.S. in huge numbers. According to study data, at the end of March 2025, there were 3,629,627 active cases pending before the Immigration Court, with 2,020,815 immigrants having already filed formal asylum applications and waiting for asylum hearings or decisions in Immigration Court.
Up to that date in 2025, 208,506 immigrants (47% of all migrants whose cases were processed) were issued with removal and voluntary departure orders. Of 82,655 Immigration Court deportation cases completed in March 2025, 41,813 migrants were forcibly deported, with an additional 1,836 immigrants voluntarily deported – 52.8% of all cases.
The fate of each of those migrants largely depends on which state is handling their case. Our new study looks at the state differentials that make the U.S. migrant experience so variable, the causes behind such differences, and the huge overall cost to the U.S. economy.
The Starkly Variable Migrant Experience, State By State
Migrants who come to the U.S. do so from all over the world. Here are the ten places (not including migrants from Latin America) from which more migrants head into the U.S. than anywhere else.
- India 2,709,199 (number of migrants in 2023 – Yahoo Finance figures)
- China 2,380,146
- The Philippines 1,982,434
- Vietnam 1,338,538
- South Korea 1,011,589
- Canada 778,497
- The United Kingdom 701,102
- Germany 540,203
- Russia 425,429
- Poland 412,797
A migrant to the U.S. might be welcomed and offered legal assistance and other means of integration; or, they may instead be subject to hostility and be detained or even deported. It all depends on which state in the U.S. they find themselves upon arrival.
Some states – such as California, New York, and Illinois – are migrant friendly and observe policies that befit such a position. These states feature sanctuary laws, state-funded legal aid, and driving licenses for undocumented residents.
Conversely, states like Texas, Georgia, and Florida take up a much more proscriptive position. Such states have adopted aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies that allow local law enforcement agencies to act as immigration enforcement agents and detain and deport as they see fit.
States that Are Hard on Migrants
The top 10 least migrant-friendly states were selected based on the following criteria, which reflect both direct enforcement trends and institutional barriers faced by migrants..
- ICE detention numbers – States with the highest average daily detainee populations (e.g., Texas, Louisiana).
- Deportation volume – The number of removals processed, using data from tracereports.org
- Enforcement cooperation – The use of programs like 287(g), which deputize local law enforcement for immigration duties.
- Restrictive state laws – Criminalization of undocumented status, bans on sanctuary cities, or denial of services.
- Lack of driver’s license access – No pathway for undocumented immigrants to obtain legal ID.
Our assessment of official immigration data suggests that, as of April 6, 2025, there were 47,928 migrants detained under ICE policies in the U.S. 22,249 (46.4%) of those detained have no criminal record, and the vast majority of detainees have incurred only minor offenses, such as traffic violations.
Of the 22,927 migrants detained under ICE legislation during March 2025, 19,122 were arrested by ICE agents, with the remaining 3,805 detained by Customs and Border Protection officers.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data, the main reasons for detaining migrants include unauthorized entry at borders, failed admittance at official Ports of Entry, criminal offense arrests that subsequently also become illegal alien matters, workplace raids and VISA overstays.
ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program – a system in place to make sure non-detained migrants adhere to release conditions, including scheduled court appearances – currently monitors 183,635 families and single individuals. At present, San Francisco oversees the country’s largest Alternative to Detention program.
By some distance, Texas holds the largest number of daily detainees in the U.S. – a statistic that reflects the state’s strong anti-sanctuary stance.
Louisiana, despite being a relatively small state, has the second highest detention numbers, while Georgia in third place has little in place to support undocumented migrants.
Here are the ten least migrant-friendly states.
- Texas
As well as having the largest number of ICE detainees (12,224) and deportations (54,933), Texas observes strict anti-sanctuary laws, with local ICE operatives responsible for delivering its migrant operations – which makes for aggressive state-level enforcement.
A good example of this is its Senate Bill, which allows state and local law enforcement to arrest, prosecute and deport individuals they suspect of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.
- Louisiana
Second highest in ICE detentions (7,090), Louisiana hosts nine separate private detention centers. The state also offers minimal help for aliens, with no access to driving licenses or public services for undocumented immigrants.
Louisiana also carries a no sanctuary policy, and has made it illegal for employers to hire undocumented workers.
- Georgia
Georgia has high daily detention rate numbers (2,620) and carries section 287 (g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. This legislation closely follows ICE imperatives and effectively means the state delivers Government-approved directives – making Georgia a hostile proposition for migrants.
- Arizona
Arizona’s high daily detention figures (2,348) reflect its strict anti-immigration position. The state carries very strict migrant laws, such as SB 1070, which was passed in 2010 (and since partially struck down by the Supreme Court).
The law stipulates that local law enforcement officers can routinely check the immigration status of any individuals they think might be undocumented. The law also makes it a state crime to be in Arizona without the requisite federal registration papers.
- Florida
Florida’s migrant detention numbers (1,679) aptly represent its strict anti-immigration regulations, including enforced migrant cooperation with its ICE officers.
In 2019, the state imposed anti-immigrant law SB 168, which stipulates that no city in the state can give sanctuary to immigrants, or obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
- Alabama
Alabama’s strong anti-immigrant laws include tight restrictions on migrant access to housing and work opportunities. The state also carries no public services for undocumented migrants, and features high daily detention numbers (2,348).
- Mississippi
Despite its comparatively small population, Mississippi features high (2,154) detention numbers. The state also observes aggressive anti-migrant laws that penalize the harboring of undocumented immigrants.
- North Carolina
North Carolina closely follows the Government-adherent 287(g) ICE program. This means that there is no distinction between the Government and state migrant position – making the state a tough place for migrants.
- South Carolina
South Carolina’s migrant policy includes close adherence to Government-approved ICE directives, heavily restricting access to public benefits and education to unauthorized migrants, and forcing employers to verify the status of all employees using the ‘E-Verify’ system.
- Indiana
Indiana’s migrant position often aligns with the Government stance, is heavily ICE-collaborative, and includes many restrictive policies. For Indiana’s migrants, there’s very limited access to services, no legal protection and no possibility of sanctuary.
States Taking a More Benevolent Migrant Stance
The top 10 migrant-friendly states were selected based on the following criteria.
- Sanctuary policies – To what extent the state limits cooperation with ICE (e.g., California, New York).
- Access to public services – Including healthcare, education, and housing support for undocumented immigrants.
- Driver’s license availability – Whether undocumented residents can legally obtain a license.
- Legal protections –The prevalence of state-funded legal aid or municipal ID programs.
- Non-cooperation laws – Policies prohibiting local officials from assisting federal immigration enforcement.
Although California ranks third on the list of daily migrant detainee numbers and fifth for deportations, our analysis suggests it also tops the list of migrant friendly states.
As a state with a large immigration population, this is not unusual (the same applies to New York, second on the list of migrant-friendly states). Both states – along with Texas and Florida – also have the highest number of immigration court cases.
The combination creates unavoidable backlogs, creates a migrant detainee bottleneck, and shows that migrant haven states with sanctuary policies in place are still in part subject to Government decree.
In the case of California and New York, what may appear to be a statistical contradiction is no real reflection of their stance, as the top ten list of migrant-friendly states illustrates.
The list underscores the prevalence of recurring ‘migrant-friendly’ indicators – one prominent example being migrant access to driving licenses.
- California
California’s status as a sanctuary state is reflected by its provision of driving licenses for individuals without proof of legal status, and wide access to state education for migrants.
California’s sanctuary policies are extensive: its SB 54 program prohibits state and local law authorities from assisting with immigration enforcement, with limited exceptions, and its SB 29 program guarantees that schools, libraries, and other public facilities are accessible to all Californians.
- New York
New York is also a migrant sanctuary state. The Big Apple issues driver’s licenses for undocumented residents and offers municipal ID programs and legal support funds.
Additionally, the state limits its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. For example, New York prevents its local law enforcement from inquiring about a migrant’s status unless it’s relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation.
- Illinois
As a sanctuary state, Illinois features numerous migrant protections. As well as issuing driver’s licenses and providing healthcare to undocumented children, the state’s ‘The Way Forward Act’ prohibits local law enforcement from imposing any immigration enforcement. The state also provides procedural protections to immigrants involved in crime who’ve assisted a law enforcement investigation.
- Washington
Washington offers driver’s licenses to migrants, regardless of their legal status, as well as extensive labor protections and access to public services.
The state’s immigration policy, primarily through the Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), and the Courts Open to All Act (COTA), restricts collaboration and information sharing between state and local authorities and federal ICE agents.
- New Jersey
New Jersey provides legal aid and driving licenses for immigrants. One key element of New Jersey’s broader migrant-friendly approach is its Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits law enforcement assistance to federal immigration intervention, and the Immigrant Trust Act, which seeks to further limit state collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.
- Oregon
Oregon extensively covers migrants, offering numerous kinds of help, including driver’s licenses, public services, tuition, financial aid, and state identification. Undocumented residents can also access some professional and occupational licenses.
- Connecticut
If you’re a migrant in Connecticut, you can claim a driver’s license without proof of legal presence, and state-funded legal assistance. Connecticut’s TRUST Act also restricts local and state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
- Colorado
Colorado issues migrants with driving licenses and tax registration numbers and provides numerous benefits. The state also observes anti-ICE laws that restrict local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, including blocking arrests and detentions based on immigration status.
- Vermont
Vermont observes progressive immigration support policies, such as allowing access to state services without immigration checks. The state is also highly resistant to federal immigration enforcement.
- Maryland
Maryland provides driving licenses for undocumented immigrants and upholds many sanctuary policies. One example restricts local and state law enforcement’s involvement in immigration enforcement, and generally prohibits local law enforcement from detaining individuals, extending detentions, or transferring migrants to federal immigration authorities.
The Industries Featuring Most Migrant Workers in the U.S.
The number of migrants deported from the U.S. can massively impact the American workforce. Many industries are heavily reliant on migrant work; without that quotient of their workforce, their productivity wanes – and the American economy takes a hit.
Here are the ten industries featuring most undocumented migrants, according to American Immigration Council figures.
- Construction – 21.5% (of the industry made up of undocumented migrants)
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting – 15.7%
- Leisure and hospitality – 13.2%
- Professional and business services – 11.9%
- Manufacturing – 10.4%
- Transportation and utilities – 9.8%
- Wholesale and retail – 7.6%
- Mining – 7.6%
- Information services – 6.1%
- Education and health – 5.2%
The Cost of Deportation
The likelihood of migrant deportation to a larger extent depends on each state’s political leanings. Blue states are broadly more diverse and migrant-friendly, whereas red states – whose political voices more often push the need for tighter border controls – are more often less accommodating to migrants.
Yet other factors of national interest are at play, as well as migrants’ variable experience. The effect on the U.S. workforce and its economy is considerable. In addition to the dent to production levels across myriad industries, American Immigration Council figures put the cost of deporting a million migrants at an annual rate of $88 billion.
As Federal Crime Prosecutors, Suzuki Law Offices is here to help you defend yourself against any transporting illegal immigrants (aliens), trafficking in human life or aiding and abetting the illegal re-entry of a foreigner.
These charges are serious federal offenses that carry a heavy prison sentence if convicted. Our experts are here to help.