The foreign-born population in the United States has surged to a new record high of more than 53 million, with mass illegal immigration driving much of the increase

The foreign-born population in the United States has surged to a new record high of more than 53 million people, new government data shows.

The figure accounts for 15.8 percent of the entire United States population.

The Center for Immigration Studies says mass illegal immigration drove much of the increase.