The unauthorized or undocumented resident immigrant population is defined as all foreign-born non-citizens who are not legal residents. Most unauthorized residents either entered the United States without inspection or were admitted temporarily and stayed past the date they were required to leave.

Unauthorized residents applying for adjustment to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) are unauthorized until they have been granted lawful permanent residence (a green card)—even though they may have been authorized to work. Persons who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are not technically unauthorized.

In Florida, as in all states, the unauthorized or undocumented resident immigrant population consists of foreign-born individuals who are not legal residents. This includes those who entered the country without proper inspection and those who overstayed their visas. Unauthorized immigrants in Florida are subject to federal immigration laws, as immigration is primarily governed at the federal level through the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Unauthorized residents may seek to adjust their status to become Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), but they remain unauthorized until they successfully obtain a green card. It's important to note that while Florida may have state-specific policies that impact immigrants, such as law enforcement practices or access to state services, the process of adjusting status from unauthorized to lawful resident is governed by federal law. Additionally, individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in Florida are considered to be lawfully present, although they do not have LPR status, and are not classified as unauthorized immigrants.