The rapid influx of immigrants to the U.S. in recent years is
one of the more dramatic demographic developments with
implications for both the number and profile of poor people in
the U.S. In absolute terms, the number of immigrants currently
living in America is at an historic high (37.3 million), as
shown below. However, in relative terms, the share of the U.S.
population that was foreign born in 2008 (12.6%) is actually
lower than the share of the population that was foreign born at
the start of the 20th century (14.7%). Immigration was
restricted between World War I and 1964, so in comparison to
this period of lower immigration flows, current immigration
rates may seem particularly high. A distinguishing feature of
immigrant flows since 1965 is that they are more racially and
ethnically diverse than previous waves that primarily brought
immigrants first from Northern and Central Europe (largely
pre-1900), and later from Southern and Eastern Europe (from
around 1890 to 1924). As shown below, the share of t