U.S. Census Bureau

Foreign-born population: place of birth and citizenship

Use place-of-birth evidence without equating geography with race or legal status.

Read the primary source

Dataset guide / ACS vintage and table-specific

Dataset guide · U.S. Census Bureau

Read with context.

The Census definition includes people who were not U.S. citizens at birth. Tables such as B05006 describe place of birth, while other tables describe citizenship and population characteristics. Select the actual population needed for the question.

Before using a figure in advocacy, record the exact table or measure, geography, observation period, population, denominator and uncertainty. This page is a research guide; it does not claim that raw data have been imported or independently analyzed.

Limits to keep in view

The ACS does not identify immigration legal-status categories. African-born, Black and foreign-born are not interchangeable groups; not all diaspora members are immigrants.

Connect evidence to action

Choose a question, verify the relevant jurisdiction, and explain the action you are asking someone to take. A source-backed draft is a starting point—not a message sent on your behalf.

Use this in an advocacy brief

Research sources

Source text supports this summary. Human editorial approval, service availability and eligibility are separate checks.

Related policy & program records

Shared topic, not a claim of causation or eligibility.

Your working notes

Keep the context with the claim.

Write the question first

What are you trying to understand? Identify the population and place before looking for a number that might support your position.

Capture the measure

Record the source title, table or indicator, units, reference period and any stated uncertainty. Preserve the original wording of technical definitions.

Distinguish observation from explanation

A difference between groups can prompt further inquiry. It does not, by itself, identify the cause or establish the effect of a particular policy.