Currently, 1.6 million legal and illegal immigrants settle in the country each year; 350,000 immigrants leave each year, resulting in a net immigration of 1.25 million. Since 1970, the U.S. population has increased from 203 million to 310 million, i.e., over 100 million. In the next 40 years, the population will increase by an additional 130 million to 440 million. Three-quarters of the increase in our population since 1970 and the projected increase will be the result of immigration. The U.S., the worlds third most populous nation, has the highest annual rate of population growth of any developed country in the world, i.e., 0.963% (2011 estimate,) principally due to immigration.
The nations immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached 40 million in 2010, the highest number in our history. The U.S. immigrant population has doubled since 1990, nearly tripled since 1980, and quadrupled since 1970, when it stood at 9.7 million. Of the 40 million immigrants in the country in 2010, 13.9 million arrived in 2000 or later making it the highest decade of immigration in American history, even though there was a net loss of jobs during the decade. Growth in the immigrant population has primarily been driven by high levels of legal immigration. Roughly three-fourths of immigrants in the country are here legally. With nearly 12 million immigrants, Mexico was by far the top immigrant-sending country, accounting for 29 percent of all immigrants and 29 percent of growth in the immigrant population from 2000 to 2010.
All immigrants are not created equal. No more than all Americans are equal.
Some Americans are addicted to drugs and commit 50% of burglaries. Others are occupying Wall Street. And millions more are in prison for serious crimes.
Some immigrants arrive with few productive skills. Some others arrive with highly qualified education and technical & scientific skills. Some are burden on the tax payers. Some others promote wealth creation and productivity.
The point is, unless one examines underlying data of immigrants, making sweeping generalizations is pointless and counter-productive.
The current situation in country is such that there is a serious lack of highly skilled workers. China is graduating million engineers each year. We are a fraction of that. Math and science is not popular here. We have too many lawyers and too few skilled engineers.
As the article points out, this is a bipartisan scandal. We can only hope that these immigrants appreciate how much better their lives are here and act accordingly.
Is this number those that came here legally and are now naturalized citizens? If so, what is the problem?
My guess is most are busting their butts to get ahead and paying taxes.
我爱美国
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/