Policy Brief: California’s Immigration Landscape and Current Public Opinion

California has long been a top destination for immigrants coming to the United States. In turn, immigrants have played a pivotal role in shaping the state's strong economic growthand cultural vitality. Today, executive actions have transformed the federal policy landscape in ways that will reverberate through the lives of immigrants and alter immigration trends. In light of these actions and their consequences, we offer insights into immigration patterns for California as well as past and present views of immigration and immigrants.

California has more immigrants-almost 11 million-and a higher share of immigrants (28%) than any other state. That population share is also twice that of the rest of the country (14%). Flows of immigrants to California have slowed in recent decades, but immigration remains an important source of population and economic growth.