Some numbers from migrationpolicy.org-
Mexico and Central America accounted for most unauthorized immigrants in the United States as of 2010-14, with MPI estimating their totals at about 7.9 million (71 percent of the overall unauthorized population). About 1.5 million (13 percent) were from Asia; 673,000 (6 percent) from South America; 432,000 (4 percent) from Europe, Canada, or Oceania; 353,000 (3 percent) from Africa; and 232,000 (2 percent) from the Caribbean.
The top five countries of birth for unauthorized immigrants were Mexico (56 percent), Guatemala (7 percent), El Salvador (4 percent), Honduras (3 percent), and China (2 percent).
The initial DACA program was announced on June 15, 2012, and granted two-year deportation relief and work authorization to eligible youth. Prospective beneficiaries must meet a series of requirements, including:
- be at least 15 years old;
- have entered the United States before the age of 16;
- have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007;
- be enrolled in school, have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, or be honorably discharged veterans; and
- have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors; or otherwise pose a threat to public safety or national security.
MPI estimates that as of 2016 approximately 1.9 million people were potentially eligible for DACA, including nearly 1.3 million who were immediately eligible.
Between August 15, 2012, when USCIS began accepting applications, and September 30, 2016, 861,192 initial applications were accepted for consideration. Thus, as of September 30, 2016 (the most recent data made public by USCIS at the time of this article’s publication), about 66 percent of the immediately eligible population had applied. USCIS approved 752,154 (or 87 percent) of these applications for initial status as of September 30, 2016; 62,809 (7 percent) were denied and the remainder was pending. On June 5, 2014, USCIS began accepting DACA renewal applications, and as of September 2016 had accepted 667,287 renewal applications.
The top states of residence for accepted initial applications are California (28 percent), Texas (16 percent), New York and Illinois (5 percent each), and Florida (4 percent). The top countries of origin are Mexico (78 percent), El Salvador (4 percent), Guatemala (3 percent), Honduras (2 percent), and Peru and Brazil (1 percent each).
By the end of September 2016, 88 percent (588,151) of the accepted 667,287 renewal applications had been approved, with 11 percent (73,705) pending, and less than 1 percent (5,431) denied.