Surge in U.S. Tuberculosis Cases Tied to Foreign-Born Population, CDC Reports

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) briefing shows that in 2024, 76 percent of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States were among individuals born outside the country. Among these non-U.S.–born citizens, 7,915 cases were reported, translating to a rate of 15.5 per 100,000 people, compared with just 0.8 per 100,000 among U.S.-born individuals.

More recent data underscores a troubling trend: TB cases in 2024 reached their highest levels in over a decade, with more than 10,300 cases reported—a 8 percent increase over 2023. Public health officials point to international travel and migration as primary drivers, with the vast majority of new cases occurring among foreign-born persons. Additional factors, including illnesses that weaken the immune system, may prompt latent TB infections to become active.

This resurgence interrupts nearly thirty years of steady decline in TB cases across the U.S. Increases occurred across all age groups and in 34 states, with states like Kansas, Alaska, and Hawaii reporting notable spikes.

Kansas is currently grappling with a severe TB outbreak. Since early 2024, 113 have been recorded—more than double the 51 cases logged in 2023. Among these, 68 are active cases and 88 are latent, many concentrated in Wyandotte County. State officials have not confirmed the outbreak’s origin.

Critics have raised concerns that insufficient health screening at the border, particularly under the Biden administration, has allowed individuals to enter without proper checks. A report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) argues that the recent rise in TB correlates with a record surge in migration and lax screening measures. The report found a "direct cause-and-effect” relationship between poorly screened or unscreened entrants and the U.S. TB resurgence.

A separate analysis showed that many foreign-born individuals—especially undocumented migrants and temporary visitors—are not screened at all. A 2012 study indicated that only legal permanent residents undergo pre-arrival screening. Tourists, students, workers on temporary visas, and undocumented individuals often enter without TB assessment. As such, over half of TB cases among foreign-born residents may derive from those not screened before entry.

Health experts warn that TB isn’t the only concern. Chronic under-screening at the border—especially during the open-borders years of the Biden administration—elevated the risk of importing other infections.

In the past four years, several illnesses once rare in the United States—often called “third-world diseases”—have been on the rise. Dengue fever, carried by mosquitoes, has surged dramatically: reported cases among U.S. travelers climbed 84% in 2024 versus 2023, and local transmission occurred in states like Florida, California, and Texas. Chagas disease, transmitted by triatomine or “kissing” bugs, is now considered endemic in 32 States, with over 300,000 estimated cases—even though most remain unaware of their infection. Adding to the concern, a New World screwworm case—previously eradicated in the U.S.—was reported in Maryland in 2025, raising alarms over renewed threats from parasitic outbreaks. These developments underscore emerging pressures on public health infrastructure.

Moreover, migrant health remains poorly supported. An Associated Press report details that many migrants arriving in U.S. cities struggle to find consistent care for conditions like pneumonia, flu, and other health issues—compounded by fragmented healthcare systems, language barriers, and unclear follow-up procedures.

Throughout the 20th century, Alabama witnessed a steady decline in tuberculosis, thanks to better public health measures and expanded treatment access. In 1990, the State’s age-standardized years of life lost due to TB stood at 29.4 per 100,000, but by 2019, that figure had fallen to 8.14 per 100,000, reflecting significant progress in reducing the disease’s toll. In more recent years, the annual TB burden in Alabama has remained relatively low: there were 87 cases in 2019 (a rate of about 1.8 per 100,000 population). The rate dipped to 65 cases (1.3 per 100,000) in 2022, before rising again to 92 cases (1.8 per 100,000) in 2023. Preliminary data suggest a modest decline in 2024, with 90 reported cases—a rate of 1.7 per 100,000. Though Alabama’s TB burden remains much lower than in many times in the past, these figures underscore the need for sustained vigilance and robust public health efforts.

The sharp increase in tuberculosis cases—especially among the foreign-born—has rekindled debate over whether border policies under the Biden administration have compromised health safety. While the data clearly shows a strong link between migration and rising TB rates, as of yet there have been no moves towards finding and holding accountable the persons responsible for allowing infected, contagious migrants to enter the country and threaten the health and safety of American citizens.

The challenge is clear: strengthen screening protocols, heighten healthcare support for migrants, restore public health infrastructure and continue to aggressively deport illegal migrants. Only then can the U.S. prevent preventable diseases—especially those imported from the third world—from resurging.