First and Second Generation

A person who is a first-generation immigrant is defined as one who is born outside of the United States. 1.5-generation immigrants are individuals who came to the United States as children. Second-generation immigrants are born in the United States but have parents who are born abroad.

The immigrant-origin child population has grown to nearly 20 million and now make up approximately 27% of the U.S. child population.

Notably, the vast majority of immigrant children in the United States are second-generation birthright citizens.

Source: Migration Policy Institute