Delaware’s immigrant population has grown steadily over the past decade, reaching approximately 118,900 foreign-born residents in 2024, about 11.5% of the state’s total population, according to the American Immigration Council. This marks a significant increase from 8.6% in 2014, reflecting consistent immigration-driven growth in a state where the native-born population has been declining in some counties.
Delaware’s immigrant communities vary significantly by geography. Northern Delaware, Wilmington, Newark, and New Castle County host a more diverse immigrant population with significant communities from India, China, El Salvador, and Mexico, many of whom work in pharmaceutical and financial services. Southern Delaware: Sussex County, in particular, has a large and growing Mexican, Guatemalan, and Central American population tied to the poultry processing industry, one of the region’s largest employers. The cities of Milford, Georgetown, Seaford, and Laurel in Sussex County have seen among the fastest immigrant population growth in the state.
Approximately 30,500 of Delaware’s immigrants are undocumented, representing about a quarter of the foreign-born population. An estimated 27,000 U.S. citizens in Delaware live with at least one undocumented family member. Delaware’s immigrant workforce contributes over $1 billion in local, state, and federal taxes annually.
Aftalion Law Group represents Delaware residents across Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown, Smyrna, Milford, Georgetown, and all three counties through secure remote services.
Delaware does not have a standalone immigration court within the state. Delaware immigration cases are handled by the Philadelphia Immigration Court in Pennsylvania, which serves the entire Delaware Valley region. The USCIS Philadelphia Field Office at 1600 Callowhill Street also serves Delaware residents for in-person benefits matters, including green card and naturalization interviews.
Given national backlog pressures of over 3.3 million cases pending nationally as of early 2026, wait times at the Philadelphia court can be substantial. Delaware residents who receive a Notice to Appear are assigned to the Philadelphia docket and, in some cases, may also find their cases assigned to courts in other states, depending on where they were first encountered by immigration authorities. This makes it especially important to work with an attorney who can identify whether a venue transfer motion would benefit your case.
Sussex County’s poultry communities in particular have seen increased ICE enforcement activity. The mental health and economic toll of enforcement on Delaware’s Latino communities, documented by WHYY and other regional reporting, has been significant, with stricter immigration policies contributing to fear and barriers to care in Southern Delaware.
Philadelphia Immigration Court
900 Market Street, Suite 504, Philadelphia, PA 19107
This court handles various immigration matters, including deportation defense, asylum applications, and family-based immigration petitions.
Regardless of where you reside in Delaware, our attorneys are here to provide clear guidance and fierce legal representation.
Aftalion Law Group is proud to offer a wide range of immigration legal services to clients throughout Delaware, including:
Priority practice areas for Delaware residents include removal defense (particularly for the undocumented communities in Sussex County’s poultry industry), family-based immigration, VAWA applications (Sussex County has documented elevated rates of domestic violence in its farmworker and poultry worker communities), employment-based immigration for pharmaceutical and financial services workers in Wilmington and New Castle County, asylum, and DACA.
Immigration law is complex and ever-changing. Visit our blog to stay updated on new policy changes, USCIS trends, and legal insights that may affect your case in Delaware.
Immigration law in Delaware requires local knowledge, court awareness, and strategic preparation. Contact Aftalion Law Group today for a free case evaluation. We are ready to help you and your family move forward with confidence.
