Number of illegal immigrants in US now declining

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. has dropped for the first time in two decades -- decreasing by 8 percent since 2007, a new study finds. The reasons range from the sour economy to Mexican violence and increased U.S. enforcement that has made it harder to sneak across the border.

Much of the decline comes from a sharp drop-off in illegal immigrants from the Caribbean, Central America and South America attempting to cross the southern border of the U.S., according to the Pew Hispanic Center, which based its report on an analysis of 2009 census data.

The study released Wednesday estimates that 11.1 million illegal immigrants lived in the U.S. in 2009. That represents a decrease of roughly 1 million, or 8 percent, from a peak of 12 million in 2007.

The study puts the number of illegal immigrants down to about where it was in 2005. They still make up roughly 4 percent of the U.S. population.

The Homeland Security Department's own estimate of illegal immigrants is slightly lower, at 10.8 million. The government uses a different census survey that makes some year-to-year comparisons difficult.

An increase in unauthorized immigrants leaving the U.S., by deportation or for economic reasons, may have played a factor in the falling number.

In recent years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deported an increasing number of illegal immigrants, reaching a high last year of more than 389,000 people, according to government figures.

States in the Southeast and Southwest saw some of the biggest declines in the number of illegal immigrants from 2008 to 2009, including Florida, Nevada and Virginia. Arizona saw a decrease, but it was too small to be statistically significant.

It's hard to figure out how much of the decline to attribute to the bad economy and how much to federal immigration enforcement, said Jeffrey Passel, a senior demographer at Pew who co-wrote the analysis.

"They're certainly acting together," he said. Passel said illegal immigrants now find it more expensive and dangerous to cross into the U.S. and also have less incentive to do so given the languishing job market in construction and other low-wage industries.

The Pew analysis found the sharpest decline -- 22 percent -- among illegal immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico. This may reflect a lesser-known aspect of the immigration debate that broke into the news again last week when the bodies of 72 Central and South American migrants were found in a cartel stronghold in northern Mexico: Thousands of non-Mexicans go missing on their way to the United States, falling victim to demands that they pay impossible ransoms to criminal gangs that control access to the U.S. border.

"While people are arguing the government is not stopping illegal immigration, our data suggests the flow of undocumented immigrants sneaking into the country has dropped dramatically," Passel said.

Boosted by immigration and high numbers of births among Latinos, minorities now make up roughly half the children born in the U.S., part of a historic trend in which they are projected to become the majority of Americans by mid-century. Roughly one in four counties currently have more minority children than white children or are nearing that point.

Still, the Census Bureau has made clear that projected minority growth -- particularly among Hispanics -- could change substantially depending on immigration policies and the economy.

The Pew analysis is based on census data through March 2009. Because the Census Bureau does not ask people about their immigration status, the estimate on illegal immigrants is derived largely by subtracting the estimated legal immigrant population from the total foreign-born population. It is a method that has been used by the government and Pew for many years and is generally accepted.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HVCHPO1.htm

[^_^ 5,021]

So an all out civil war in Mexico between the cartels and federal forces could work in our favor?

Conventional wisdom, shattered yet again.

[Darnell 8,478]

I had heard from chatter about this report, on NPR radio yesterday, as well (don't ask me how I get the feed in Wuhan)

but

the stats compiler was stating that the decline was not in Mexican Nationals, but in South and Central American EWI people, ppl from the Islands (Bermuda, Jamaica, etc) and one other place (sorry, can't remember) and then

was a narrative/interview with the Director of ICE, as well. Mexican Nationals , and the counts for Mexican Nationals, were not mentioned in the NPR report, except to say that there was not any decline in the 'head count' of Mexican Nationals that are here EWI.

this is a piece of it -> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129584585

but is not the 'full 20 minutes' of the total report. The interview with the ICE director was just a small part of it - perhaps you fellas can find the rest of it?

Edited September 2, 2010 by Darnell

[^_^ 5,021]

I had heard from chatter about this report, on NPR radio yesterday, as well (don't ask me how I get the feed in Wuhan)

but

the stats compiler was stating that the decline was not in Mexican Nationals, but in South and Central American EWI people, ppl from the Islands (Bermuda, Jamaica, etc) and one other place (sorry, can't remember) and then

was a narrative/interview with the Director of ICE, as well. Mexican Nationals , and the counts for Mexican Nationals, were not mentioned in the NPR report, except to say that there was not any decline in the 'head count' of Mexican Nationals that are here EWI.

this is a piece of it -> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129584585

but is not the 'full 20 minutes' of the total report. The interview with the ICE director was just a small part of it - perhaps you fellas can find the rest of it?

Wow, you seem to have a genuine interest in the illegal immigration problem. I commend you for that but would humbly suggest that perhaps - just perhaps - a forum dedicated to legal immigration isn't the best forum for you to be exploring your interests. Maybe? Just maybe?

[Danno 1,228]

JUst imagine if the Government Nipple were to go dry for `non-citizens what the natural result would be.

[^_^ 5,021]

JUst imagine if the Government Nipple were to go dry for `non-citizens what the natural result would be.

Yeah, screw non-citizens!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Replying to Number of illegal immigrants in US now declining

I blame Obama for this.

[Danno 1,228]

Yeah, I guess you are right.... since Obama has failed to turn the economy around... I guess it is fair to say one of the results is: SOme of his future base has bailed on him and gone home (for now).

Wonder if Obama will work this into a 2012 campaign commercial?

OBAMA: I did what I had to to stem the flood of illegals..... even wrecking the U.S. Economy , can my opponent say that?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Yeah, I guess you are right.... since Obama has failed to turn the economy around... I guess it is fair to say one of the results is: SOme of his future base has bailed on him and gone home (for now).

Wonder if Obama will work this into a 2012 campaign commercial?

OBAMA: I did what I had to to stem the flood of illegals..... even wrecking the U.S. Economy , can my opponent say that?

[Danno 1,228]

Yeah, screw non-citizens!

How many are you housing?

[^_^ 5,021]

How many are you housing?

Non-citizens? Housing non-citizens is now a problem?

Pay attention to your terminology. This is still an immigration forum and we care about that stuff here. Stop conflating illegal immigrants with non-citizens.

[Darnell 8,478]

Wow, you seem to have a genuine interest in the illegal immigration problem. I commend you for that but would humbly suggest that perhaps - just perhaps - a forum dedicated to legal immigration isn't the best forum for you to be exploring your interests. Maybe? Just maybe?

Exploring my interests? Pardon? Hey - you had some mention of the Mexican Cartel, and I was attempting to point out that 'that report' , alas, had no discernable 'decrease' in Mexican Nationals here on EWI. There's some linkage there, but I'm not so certain of 'why it's important' with your posit about the Mexican Cartel, transposing 'them' into some talk of reduced illegal-aliens-count in the USA -

as the data does not show any decrease in Mexican Nationals EWI'ing into the USA.

Perhaps we're both confused on 'what the point was', yah? oh well.. have a good one !

Edited September 2, 2010 by Darnell

[Danno 1,228]

Non-citizens? Housing non-citizens is now a problem?

Pay attention to your terminology. This is still an immigration forum and we care about that stuff here. Stop conflating illegal immigrants with non-citizens.

Your point was better than my reading.

[^_^ 5,021]

Exploring my interests? Pardon? Hey - you had some mention of the Mexican Cartel, and I was attempting to point out that 'that report' , alas, had no discernable 'decrease' in Mexican Nationals here on EWI. There's some linkage there, but I'm not so certain of 'why it's important' with your posit about the Mexican Cartel, transposing 'them' into some talk of reduced illegal-aliens-count in the USA -

as the data does not show any decrease in Mexican Nationals EWI'ing into the USA.

Read, maybe? Just maybe? Hmm? Hmm?

The Pew analysis found the sharpest decline -- 22 percent -- among illegal immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico. This may reflect a lesser-known aspect of the immigration debate that broke into the news again last week when the bodies of 72 Central and South American migrants were found in a cartel stronghold in northern Mexico: Thousands of non-Mexicans go missing on their way to the United States, falling victim to demands that they pay impossible ransoms to criminal gangs that control access to the U.S. border.

[mawilson 2,133]

as the data does not show any decrease in Mexican Nationals EWI'ing into the USA.

The Pew study found that the flow of Mexicans, who represent 60% of all illegal immigrants

in the U.S., plummeted to 150,000 annually during the 2007-2009 period, compared with the

annual average of 500,000 during the first half of the decade.

link