The U.S. Census Bureau uses the term foreign born to refer to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth. This includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants (such as foreign students), humanitarian migrants (such as refugees and asylees), and unauthorized migrants.

The Census Bureau collects data from all foreign born who participate in its censuses and surveys, regardless of legal status. Thus, unauthorized migrants are included in Census Bureau estimates of the total foreign-born population. However, it is not possible to tabulate separate estimates of unauthorized migrants or any other legal status category.

The Department of Homeland Security Office of Immigration Statistics publishes statistics and reports based on administrative data, such as the number of persons obtaining legal permanent resident status, refugees and asylees, naturalizations, nonimmigrant admissions, and immigration enforcement actions. It also provides estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States.

The Census Bureau collects and publishes survey data on characteristics of foreign-born residents of the United States such as country of birth, U.S. citizenship status, and year of entry into the United States.

The Census Bureau does not collect data on the legal status of the foreign born.

For additional information, please visit ask.census.gov. For assistance, please contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll free).