Posted on 02/22/2005 5:05:20 PM PST by F16Fighter
The size of the undocumented immigrant population in the United States is probably about 9 million people.
A report released by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in January 2003 estimated the size of the undocumented immigrant population at 7.0 million in 2000. A separate analysis by Jeff Passel of the Urban Institute estimated there were 8.5 million undocumented immigrants in 2000. Passel and others believe that net illegal immigration from Mexico alone has been growing at a rate of 500,000 people annually, which places current estimates at a minimum of 9.0 million unauthorized immigrants.
In the 1990s, the undocumented immigrant population grew by 350,000 per year. According to the INS, from 1990 to 1999, the size of the undocumented immigrant population grew by about 350,000 people per year on average, and by as much as 500,000 people per year in the latter third of the decade.
The states with the largest unauthorized populations are California and Texas. INS estimates show the states that had the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in 2000 were California (2.2 million) and Texas (1.0 million), followed by New York (0.5 million), Illinois (0.4 million), and Florida (0.3 million). Texas became the second state after California to have over one million unauthorized residents.
Almost one-third of all undocumented immigrants live in California. According to the INS, of all undocumented immigrants in the United States in 2000, 32 percent lived in California, followed by Texas (15 percent), New York (7 percent), Illinois (6 percent), and Florida (5 percent). Combined, these five states accounted for 64 percent of all undocumented migrants.
The states with the largest numerical increases in their unauthorized populations in the 1990s were California, Texas, and Illinois, in that order.
INS data show that the states with the largest numerical increases in their unauthorized populations between 1990 and 2000 were California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and New York, in that order. Each of these states had increases of morethan 100,000 in the number of unauthorized residents between 1990 and 2000.
Georgia, North Carolina, and Colorado experienced rapid growth in their unauthorized immigrant populations between 1990 and 2000. Between 1990 and 2000, the unauthorized immigrant populations of several states grew rapidly, according to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, including:
Georgia 571 percent (from 34,000 to 228,000)
North Carolina: 692 percent (from 26,000 to 206,000)
Colorado 365 percent (from 31,000 to 144,000)
Seven states that had 10,000 or fewer unauthorized immigrants in 1990 also experienced rapid growth through the decade:
Arkansas 440 percent (from 5,000 to 27,000)
South Carolina 414 percent (from 7,000 to 36,000)
Tennessee 411 percent (from 9,000 to 46,000)
Alabama 380 percent (from 5,000 to 24,000)
Iowa 380 percent (from 5,000 to 24,000)
Wisconsin 310 percent (from 10,000 to 41,000)
Nebraska 300 percent (from 6,000 to 24,000)
There is no evidence to suggest that this pattern has changed since 2000. The five countries of origin with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations are Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, and Honduras.
In 2000, the largest source country for unauthorized immigrants was Mexico (4.8 million), according to the INS. The unauthorized resident population from Mexico increased by 140 percent, from about 2.0 million in 1990 to 4.8 million in 2000, according to the INS. Unauthorized immigrants from Mexico represented 69 percent of the total unauthorized resident population in 2000. In 1990, unauthorized immigrants from Mexico represented 58 percent of the total.
Six other source countries were estimated to have over 100,000 unauthorized immigrants resident in the United States, including El Salvador (189,000), Guatemala (144,000), Colombia (141,000), Honduras (138,000), China (115,000), and Ecuador (108,000). There is no evidence to suggest that this pattern has changed since 2000.
This information was compiled by Elizabeth Grieco, MPI’s Data Manager, in October 2003. For questions or to arrange an interview with a data expert or policy analyst, please contact Colleen Coffey at 202-266-1910 or ccoffey@migrationpolicy.org. Please visit us at www.migrationpolicy.org.
No credible authority has ever claimed that we could seal the borders against laborers, only demagogues and professional fundraisers such as the Buchanan/Tancredo group.
Illegals, and the refusal of our gov't to enforce the laws, is causing a general disdain and disrespect for the rule of law. What is worse, everyday working idiots get pulled over for stop signs, traffic infractions, and get harrassed all the time and shaken down. The illegals? Nothing happens. They are lauded and being gifts to this country while they piss in the street and drop litter everywhere.
I hope 100 or so show up on Bayroud's door step looking for work one day.
You are a complete fool. When these illegals have kids - who pays for the education while they pay no taxes?????
What do you think funds school systems?
When you have five and six kids going to school all who live in a single family house, how do you think that impacts taxes?
When one of these people gets hurt, who do you think pays the bill?
Over 220 replies posted since you posted the article yesterday. Obviously the hottest button.
There is something surreal about U.S. government spending vast amounts on hiring sky marshals, increasing airport security,at the same time as the southern border is effectively wide open, millions just pouring in.
True words. Very few real Republican conservatives exist anymore. Socialism/third world status here we come.
The outrage being expressed over this is overwhelming. As well it should be. We're going to find out just how much our State Representatives are listening to the people who voted them in. If not, we'll vote them OUT! Understand, that the children of US citizens of the State of Arkansas will have to compete with ILLEGAL high school graduates for College Scholarships. This is insane...No wonder they want to come here...sw
"Even among Hispanic Americans, four polls showed substantial majorities who viewed illegal immigration as a serious problem. A recent Tarrance poll in California showed that 81 % of the respondents believed border security should be improved, and 67% supported rebuilding and strengthening the fence south of San Diego."
If Israel could afford a security fence so can we. Their fence isn't complete and it has already stopped most of the bomb attacks by the terrorists.
Even dirt-poor India is building an electrified fence a couple hundred miles long to keep out Islamic terrorists.
It doesn't even need to be a fence. Video cameras are cheap and there will be plenty of volunteers who could sit at home, monitor them and call the border patrol if the see anything.
It will be worth the price.
We can do a lot just by enforcing existing law. Eject illegals caught for petty crimes. Or have sting operations. Round them up at their pickup spots outside of home depot. And give employers the right to discriminate so they won't fear being sued if they ask about someone's immigration status.
I am disgusted with these traitors since they don't have to live with the results of their decisions.
I always ask everyone how they would feel if ten illegal families crammed into the house next to them. They always say they would not like it, so why foist that on someone else?
The overall net drain on the system by these people far far outwieghs any perceived benefit.
I can believe that you don't know who pays taxes in America. Hint: It's not the lower middle class parents with school children.
It's those same big businesses that hire the illegal laborers and their wealthy owners.
Look at the "rich" school districts. They are the ones in the dirty industrial and inner city areas where the poor immigrants live, not the ones in the residential suburbs.
Do you even know why we have public education? It isn't for the welfare of just the parents or kids. It's for the community as a whole. Do you understand that those immigrant children will grow up to pay an average of $178,000 in taxes during their lifetimes?
Who do you think will pay your social security? Let me give you another hint: It won't be the 41 million American citizens who were aborted. Those immigrant kids are the most valuable resource our nation has right now and our future will depend on them. Only an idiot would not want them to receive the best education possible.
Exactly, as soon as they are convicted of a crime - OUT! Leave!
Remember that wonderful illegal in CA with the train derailment? Well, it turned out that it was intentional. Great, just great. A wonderful laborer kills nine people to send a message to his wife. Keep bringing em in. We should all be living in huts and standing on the corner soon enough.
I am 29 y/o self employed and don't plan on anyone paying my social security. I have already saved enough to be well on my way to not needing social security. I don't want it. I would be happy opting out and letting to gov't have everything I have thus far paid in. In exchange they can get out of my pocket for the 15% they presently charge for that wonderful program.
I have a problem with looking at these people as slaves as you do to pay for your retirement. Let them stay in Mexico, improve their situation there, and create jobs there.
You must either live in a gated community away from where these people congregate or live in the mountains far far away. Otherwise, you would not say such silly things.
>>UHaul economics
Sobering, since I am considering moving from California. Guess I'll have to start shipping stuff book rate.
Or eject them when they are even picked up by the cops. In some places they do just the opposite. They let them go.
That fence also includes floodlights, patrol roads, motion sensors, horseback patrols, ATV patrols, towers, UAV patrols and one of the highest concentration of guards in the nation. Still laborers breach it at an estimated rate of over 145,000 per year.
That's only a 62 mile stretch. We have 7 thousand miles of land borders and many more times that in wet borders.
Anyone who thinks we can build a wall around America that will keep out laborers is childish. And anyone who would want to has other problems.
They don't "breach it", Israel allows laborers in, but they pass through the checkpoints.
Anyone who thinks we can build a wall around America that will keep out laborers is childish. And anyone who would want to has other problems.
What is insane and childish to think that this country can survive with open borders.
We will build the fence where is is needed. We will have sensors and cameras where they are needed. It will cost a few billion dollars, cheaper than the typical gulf war.
How much do you think it will cost?
Not likely. They will probably get degrees in law and become legal predators who are dependent on a steady supply of fresh meat.
Expect more class-action lawsuits, racial discrimination suits, etc. They will become legal defense attorneys for the Hispanic gang lords.
The average IQ in Mexico is about 85. Not many of the sons of those laborers will qualify for a degree in science, engineering or medicine.
You are wise beyond your years, Chris. Gated communities are sprouting up all over Arkansas. I don't want to have to relocate to the hills, but it may be a necessity. What is truly mind boggling is that the State knows EXACTLY who the Illegal immigrant children are, and those who continue to harp on calling the law to report them are blowing smoke. Nothing is done.
Now, let a bonofied American citizen in this state try to enroll their child without the proper immunization records, and they are turned away. But undocumented immigrant children will get a pass. It's only a fraction of what is to come, I'm afraid.
Wrong, I live in Houston in an ungated subdivision. The couple next door are from Mexico and speak very little English, but that's never been a problem.
We don't have racial problems in Houston and criminal gangs are almost nonexistent. 40% of our population is Hispanic (the largest group) and they are an essential key to our prosperity and high standard of living.
They "assimilate" very easily into out Southwestern culture. Our annual Houston Rodeo (no English translation available) attracts two million spectators, more than last year's Super Bowl, All Star game, PGA Tour Championship and Masters Cup events combined. Without the Hispanic contribution to our population and economy we wouldn't be able to host those events or have professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey teams.
Our infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, prisons, roads, etc... are some of the best in the nation. We're ranked the best state in which to locate a business. Our taxes are lower than average, our crime is down and we have a $3 billion budget surplus.
If you have a problem with Hispanics its your fault, not the Hispanics'.
"Not many of the sons of those laborers will qualify for a degree in science, engineering or medicine."
Nor law, accounting, any of the professions, or most white collar jobs. Your point is well taken. Our immigration policy is upside down: we are overwhelmingly letting in people with little education, unskilled laborers, and often the lower rung of society. As a consequence, they will be highly likely to be a huge drain on our social "safety net". Until our immigration policies are dramatically altered--ending all illegal immigration and allowing in only those legal immigrants who are highly intelligent or highly educated--we and our children will pay a high cost.
I am wise to this stuff because I live it everyday. I do collection work for people in the trades and have come across many of these people whom the open borders people want to flood in here. Trust me, these are not people who will improve our country - they will destroy it, piss on it, litter on it, and go on to the next host.
And the best part is that we have American citizens calling for more of this for their own selfish reasons.
The corporate types love it because it is cheap labor that is not in a position to demand higher wages. The left loves it because they will get more votes.
These illegals don't care about zoning or local oridnances. They will live like animals 20 in a room. I can't tell you how many fires we have in Yonkers due to overcrowding in the tenements. Buildings that were standing over 100 years suddenly go on fire? Why? These people stress the building with overcrowding. I have a friend on the FD and he tells me when he arrives at the fires, there are usually illegals wanting a ride to the hospital with their bags packed at the curb.
Yeah, just what we need, more of these people.
They don't want to contribute to this society. They want to work for cash off the books and send it home while living 20 to a room here. I do not find this laudable as it makes this society less desirable to live in.
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