California, known for its diversity and economic power, is home to the largest immigrant population in the United States. Among its many cities, Los Angeles stands out as the city with the highest number of undocumented immigrants, making it a focal point in national debates over immigration policy and enforcement.
Recent reports and demographic studies provide a detailed look at the scale, impact, and challenges facing Los Angeles as it navigates federal crackdowns and shifting public sentiment.
Los Angeles: The Epicenter of Undocumented Immigration
Los Angeles is home to approximately 900,000 undocumented immigrants, according to a 2020 study by the University of Southern California Dornsife. This figure, the highest for any U.S. city, highlights the deep-rooted presence of undocumented residents in the region. Many have lived in the country for over a decade, forming an integral part of the city’s social and economic fabric.
The city’s broader metropolitan area, Los Angeles County, encompasses nearly 10 million people—about 27% of California’s population. Roughly one-third of the county’s residents are foreign-born, and nearly one in five live in mixed-status households, where at least one family member is undocumented.
Demographic Landscape
- Over 35% of Los Angeles’ population is foreign-born.
- More than 56% speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish being predominant.
- The Hispanic or Latino community exceeds 1.8 million, and nearly half a million residents identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.
- About 60% of children in Los Angeles have at least one immigrant parent.
These demographics underline the city’s multicultural character and explain its strong reactions to federal immigration enforcement, including widespread protests and community resistance.
Economic Contributions and Vulnerabilities
Undocumented immigrants are vital to Los Angeles’ economy. They make up a significant portion of the workforce, particularly in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and agriculture. Statewide, undocumented immigrants account for more than a quarter of the workforce in construction and agriculture; in Los Angeles, their labor is equally indispensable.
A recent report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute estimated that removing all undocumented immigrants from California would decrease economic activity by $275 billion—about 9% of the state’s GDP4.
In Los Angeles, such a loss would cripple key industries and disrupt the city’s economic engine. Additionally, about 11% of California’s small business owners are undocumented, and approximately 700,000 undocumented immigrants own homes in the state.
Social Integration and Community Impact
Most undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles are deeply integrated into the community. Many have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, raised families, and built businesses. Nearly one in five Los Angeles residents lives in a mixed-status household, meaning immigration enforcement affects not just individuals but entire families and neighborhoods.
The city’s response to recent federal immigration crackdowns has been marked by mass protests and civic mobilization. Community leaders and local officials emphasize the essential role immigrants play in the city’s vitality and resilience.
Latest Statewide and National Context
California remains the state with the largest undocumented immigrant population, with an estimated 1.8 million undocumented residents as of 2022, down from 2.8 million in 2007. Los Angeles accounts for nearly half of this total, reinforcing its status as the leading city for undocumented immigrants in the nation.
While Texas and Florida also have large undocumented populations (1.6 million and 1.2 million, respectively), no single city rivals Los Angeles in terms of sheer numbers or the depth of integration of undocumented immigrants.
Conclusion
Los Angeles leads all U.S. cities in the size and significance of its undocumented immigrant population, with approximately 900,000 undocumented residents as of the latest reports. This community is not only central to the city’s economic success but also to its cultural and social identity.
As federal immigration policies tighten, Los Angeles finds itself at the crossroads of national debates, balancing enforcement pressures with the realities of a deeply rooted and indispensable immigrant population. The city’s future—and that of California—will depend on how it navigates these challenges, defending both its economic interests and the diverse communities that define it.
Source:
[1] https://economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/los-angeles-the-city-of-immigrants-with-over-900000-undocumented-immigrants/articleshow/121744660.cms
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/09/la-immigrants-population-demographics-protest/84114134007/
[3] https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/la-news-900-000-illegal-migrants-what-makes-los-angeles-hotbed-for-migrant-protests-8638887
[4] https://laist.com/brief/news/politics/californias-population-shrank-in-trumps-first-immigration-crackdown-it-could-happen-again
[5] https://ltg.ca.gov/2025/06/25/new-report-lt-governor-kounalakis-highlights-immigrants-vital-role-in-californias-econom/
[6] https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/
[7] https://www.ppic.org/publication/undocumented-immigrants-in-california/
[8] https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/01/californias-population-increases-again/
[9] https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/CA
[10] https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/trumps-first-immigration-crackdown-shrank-californias-population-it-could-happen-again/
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undocumented_immigrant_population_of_the_United_States
[12] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/03/11/us-metro-areas-unauthorized-immigrants/
[13] https://dof.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/352/Forecasting/Demographics/Documents/E-1_2025_Press_Release.pdf
[14] https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/los-angeles-protests-how-many-illegal-immigrants-in-us-are-latino-2739148-2025-06-11
[15] https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-los-angeles-announces-239-illegal-aliens-were-arrested-during-recent-operation
[16] https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/county/6037