Texas Ranks Fourth Nationally in New Naturalization Risk Study

AUSTIN, Texas (TXAN 24) — Texas ranked fourth nationwide in a newly released “Naturalization Risk Score” study analyzing citizenship rates and English proficiency among foreign-born residents using U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data from 2020 through 2024.

The report found Texas recorded a risk score of 84.9 out of 100, driven by a large non-citizen population and high rates of limited English proficiency among residents born outside the United States.

Researchers estimate Texas has approximately 5.3 million foreign-born residents, with 58.1% identified as non-citizens. The study also found about 3.67 million foreign-born Texans report limited English proficiency, the highest total language-barrier population of any state included in the analysis.

New Mexico ranked first overall with a score of 90.3, followed by Arkansas and Mississippi. Louisiana rounded out the top five just behind Texas.

The report’s methodology combined non-citizen population rates and limited English proficiency data to create a composite score intended to measure barriers to naturalization and civic integration.

According to the study, many Southern states ranked near the top due to a combination of growing immigrant populations and language-access challenges.