Illegal immigration declines as US economy falters
Illegal immigration, which has sparked political and social turmoil in communities across the US, is on the wane, according to an independent report.
By Agencies |
WASHINGTON: Illegal immigration, which has sparked political and social turmoil in communities across the US, is on the wane, according to an independent report released.
The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has slowed significantly the past few years, falling below the number of those entering the country legally, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington think tank.
The report estimates there were 11.9 million illegal immigrants in the US as of March. That would be a decline of 5,00,000 from the center's estimate a year ago. However, the change was not statistically significant because of the large margins of error.
The Pew study does not address why the decrease occurred, but other researchers cite the struggling US economy and stepped up enforcement of immigration laws.
"The decline in job prospects in construction, service and other low-skilled jobs are communicated through extended networks of would-be movers from Mexico and Latin America," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, another Washington think tank.
Census data released last month showed that overall immigration slowed dramatically in 2007, though the Census Bureau does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
Researchers, including the federal government, estimate there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. That is a big increase from the start of the decade, when the Pew Hispanic Center estimated there were about 8.5 million.
From 2000 to 2004, about 8,00,000 illegal immigrants a year entered the US, the Pew report estimates. Since then, the average has dropped to about 5,00,000 a year.
The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has slowed significantly the past few years, falling below the number of those entering the country legally, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington think tank.
The report estimates there were 11.9 million illegal immigrants in the US as of March. That would be a decline of 5,00,000 from the center's estimate a year ago. However, the change was not statistically significant because of the large margins of error.
The Pew study does not address why the decrease occurred, but other researchers cite the struggling US economy and stepped up enforcement of immigration laws.
"The decline in job prospects in construction, service and other low-skilled jobs are communicated through extended networks of would-be movers from Mexico and Latin America," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, another Washington think tank.
Census data released last month showed that overall immigration slowed dramatically in 2007, though the Census Bureau does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
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Researchers, including the federal government, estimate there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. That is a big increase from the start of the decade, when the Pew Hispanic Center estimated there were about 8.5 million.
From 2000 to 2004, about 8,00,000 illegal immigrants a year entered the US, the Pew report estimates. Since then, the average has dropped to about 5,00,000 a year.
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