LibGuides: Social Science Data and Statistics Resources: Immigration

Immigration

Immigration data varies widely depending on the research question. If working with a small population or a population defined by characteristics that aren't gathered in the census (religion or child of immigrants, for example), consider looking for researcher-gathered data that intentionally over-samples that group, rather than a nationally representative sample. ICPSR is an excellent source for this. Contact your librarian for more support.

Stock Data

Stock data is used to estimate the number of individuals of a certain population of interest at a specific point in time.

For example: The number of naturalized Colombian immigrants residing in the U.S as of July 2013.

Sources of Stock data

Source	About	Coverage/Frequency	Access
American Community Survey (ACS)	Replaced the Decennial Census long form in 2000. Since 2007 you can find the ACS with multiyear sampling estimates. More information	2000-Present; every year	American Fact Finder IPUMS
Decennial Census	Composed of short form (basic) and long form (socio-economic). Long form replaced by ACS in 2010	1850-2010; every ten years	American Fact Finder IPUMS IPUMS Microdata prepared by Dr.Marrow
Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Resident in the United States: January 2012- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Report providing estimates of the size of the unauthorized immigrant population residing in the U.S	2000-2012	Department of Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security report on 'Estimates of Unauthorized Immigration Population living in the United States: January 2011'.

Instructions and video on using IPUMS online analysis tool

Flow Data

Flow data is an estimate of change (addition/subtraction) of a population of interest at a specified period of time.

For example: The estimate of the number of persons arriving to the U.S from Vietnam for the years of 1965-1975.

Sources of Flow Data

Source	About	Coverage/Frequency	Access
Yearbook of Immigration Statistics- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Admissions on permanent basis, temporary basis, aylum or refugee status, naturalizations. Replaced the functions of the INS in 2001.	2002-Present; Every fiscal year	Department of Homeland Security
Statistical Yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)	Admissions on permanent basis, temporary basis, aylum or refugee status, naturalizations. Pre-DHS.	1996-2001; Every fiscal year	Department of Homeland Security Archives
--	[physical copies digitized]	1978,1980-1984,1987, 1995, 1997, 1998	HathiTrust Digital Library
--	[microfiche]	1983, 1987-1999	Tisch Library Microform. Sudoc number: J 21.2/10

Additional Data Sources

Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Datahub
Private, nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank in Washington D.C. Great resource for immigration statistics, maps and other reports. The "Who's Where in the United States" and "U.S. Historical Immigration Trends" are especially helpful. Summarizes recent American Community Survey data along with reports on immigration policy.

Migration Information Source (MIS), a service of the Migration Policy Institute. Provides authoritative data and concise overviews from numerous global organizations and governments, as well as global analysis of international migration and refugee trends.

Includes a lot of good articles on migration flows by sending and receiving country.
Social Explorer
A great mapping tool that allows access to the US decennial census from 1790-2010, The American Community survey from 2005-2011. Very good tool if you want to include geographic visualizations in your essay.
Policy Map
Mapping tool much like Social Explorer but integrates other data sources from the Department of Homeland security, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S Census, and more.
Pew Hispanic Trends Project
Access to statistical portraits, reports and public opinion poll data
The Urban Institute
The Institute gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues related to the built environment, immigration, employment, and more.
Brookings Institute
Prominent public policy research institution that provides reports on immigration written by Brookings Institute fellows.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Access to reports and data related to international migration and refugee/asylum flows worldwide, refugee and asylum issues, and migration and economic development.
Interdisciplinary Immigration Workshop at University of California, Berkeley
Links to various data sources and guides
Immigration Policy Center (IPC)
The research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council (AIC). Especially helpful are the "Issues" and "Research and Publications" headers.

Forced Migration and Slavery

Slave Voyages
Data about the broad origins and forced relocations of more than 12 million African people who were sent across the Atlantic in slave ships, and hundreds of thousands more who were trafficked within the Americas. Explore where they were taken, the numerous rebellions that occurred, the horrific loss of life during the voyages, the identities and nationalities of the perpetrators, and much more.