Study: Illegal immigration has slowed considerably
Chart shows the estimated number of illegal immigrants in the U.S., 2000-2009; change in illegal immigrant population in the top 10 states. MCT 2010
With IMMIGRATION, McClatchy Washington Bureau by Mike Doyle
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September 1, 2010
The decline marks the first significant turnaround in two decades, researchers with the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center say. As a result, the U.S. illegal immigrant population may have fallen as much as 8 percent from 2007 to 2009.
“”We’ve seen a reversal in what had been the long-term growth in the illegal immigrant population,”” researcher
An estimated 11.1 million illegal immigrants live in
“”Particularly along the southern border, enforcement has ramped up considerably,”” Passel said. “”It’s harder and more dangerous for immigrants to cross into the country.””
From 2007 to 2009, an estimated 300,000 illegal immigrants sneaked into
“”The Southwest border is more secure than ever before,”” Chandler declared.
Illegal immigrants remain concentrated in a small number of states. An estimated 2.5 million live in
The researchers caution that their findings, which are based on sampling, are subject to a margin of error, and warn of the inherent uncertainties in tracking an illegal population. Consequently, the overall illegal immigrant population estimates are described as “”not conclusive.””
For instance, the estimated illegal immigrant population of 11.1 million represents a midpoint in the range between 10.6 million and 11.6 million.
Parts of the 37-page study track some other studies, including a
The Pew Hispanic Center study arrives at a politically charged time, as state and federal lawmakers debate immigration revisions and border security measures. The Obama administration is challenging a new
“”Our borders are just too vast for us to be able to solve the problem only with fences and border patrols,”” President
Some things haven’t changed much in recent years, according to the Pew researchers.
The vast majority of illegal immigrants still come from
It’s still a young population. Notably, the number of U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants nearly doubled from 2000 to 2009. An estimated 4 million children of illegal immigrants were born in
A bill co-sponsored by 93 members of the
“”Those who are just passing through do not qualify,”” Rep.