Undocumented Population Twice as Large

A PLOS ONE study by MIT and Yale researchers estimates about 22.1 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., nearly double the commonly cited 11.3 million; even under conservative assumptions the study finds at least ~16.7 million. The authors reach this by combining operational datasets (visa overstays, border apprehensions, deportations) into a flow model rather than relying on household survey nonresponse adjustments. — If true, this upward revision changes the scale of immigration policy choices — from enforcement and deportation logistics to eligibility rules, public‑service costs, and political narratives about immigration size.