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 Georgia, as in all states, the unauthorized or undocumented resident immigrant population consists of foreign-born individuals who do not have legal resident status. This includes those who entered the country without proper inspection and those who overstayed their visas. Unauthorized immigrants in Georgia are subject to federal immigration laws, primarily governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the INA, unauthorized residents may seek to adjust their status to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs), commonly referred to as obtaining a green card. During the application process, they remain unauthorized unless and until their application is approved. However, it's important to note that individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in Georgia are considered to be lawfully present, even though they do not have LPR status, and are not classified as unauthorized immigrants. TPS is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe for their nationals to be deported there.