Nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants graduate from U.S. high schools annually, thousands more than long assumed, according to a new analysis.

The Migration Policy Institute, in a new report, estimated that at least 98,000 illegal immigrant students graduate every year, up from the earlier estimate of 65,000.

“Forty-four percent of these graduates reside in just two states: California and Texas, which account for about 27,000 and 17,000 of the 98,000 graduating every year,” said the analysis.

unnamed.png
Migration Policy Institute

The report dubbed the students “Dreamers,” attributing the numbers in part to former President Obama’s decision to protect younger illegal immigrants from deportation and provide potential amnesty.

The study also estimated that there are 680,000 young aliens in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program in the U.S.

The report expressed concern that President Trump’s effort to close out the DACA program leaves the nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants that graduate every year in limbo.

“While high school graduation represents an important milestone in the lives of many young people, these graduates will face severely limited opportunities to pursue further work and education, and will be at risk of deportation,” said Jeanne Batalova, a senior policy analyst at the institute.