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Texas leads illegal immigrant increase
Star-Telegram Washington Bureau ^ | Mar. 22, 2005 | Dave Montgomery

Posted on 03/22/2005 9:01:08 AM PST by SwinneySwitch

WASHINGTON - • A survey says that illegal immigration into Texas appears to be outpacing other states.

Despite toughened border safeguards in the aftermath of 9-11, the population of illegal immigrants in the United States has edged steadily upward to nearly 11 million, with Texas accounting for a large share of the increase, according to a survey released Monday.

Texas has 1.4 million illegal immigrants, the second-largest population of undocumented residents behind California, which has 2.4 million, according to the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington.

Jeffrey Passel, who conducted the survey, said that illegal immigration into Texas appears to be outpacing other states, possibly because of a robust economy attracting job-seekers from across the border with Mexico.

Over the last 15 years, he said, the number of illegal immigrants in the Lone Star State has more than tripled from an estimated 400,000 in 1990.

The state accounts for 14 percent of the nationwide population of illegal immigrants, compared with 11 percent of the nationwide estimate of 3.3 million in 1990.

Although it has 24 percent of the total, illegal immigration in California appeared to increase at a slower rate than in Texas, Passel said.

Others agreed with the assessment.

"The numbers have grown dramatically," said Hector Flores of Dallas, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "On my daily route to work, I see people on the corners looking for jobs. I think a majority of them are looking for ways to feed their families."

Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, a former border patrol agent who sponsored a conference on immigration and border issues last week, said he questioned some aspects of the study but felt the report accurately reflects illegal immigration trends in Texas.

"Just based on size, California and Texas would make the logical one and two," Reyes said.

Nationally, the number of illegal immigrants grew from 8.4 million in 2000 to 10.3 million in March 2004 and was approaching 11 million by March of this year, the report said.

Over the past four years, the growth rate has averaged about a half-million a year, but the survey said the number of new illegal immigrants could reach as high as 700,000 to 800,000 annually.

"It shows that in the face of 9-11 and increased border enforcement, the numbers continued to grow," Passel said in a telephone interview.

Sixty-five percent of the illegal immigrants in the country -- 6.7 million -- arrived since 1995; 30 percent, or 3.1 million, arrived since 2000.

The report may add fuel to a congressional debate to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. President Bush is scheduled to host Mexican President Vicente Fox at his Crawford ranch Wednesday as part of a three-day summit that includes Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. Fox has pressed for U.S. reforms to ease restrictions on illegal immigrants from Mexico.

An estimated 5.9 million Mexicans are living in the United States illegally, the report says, and they are 57 percent of the total undocumented population. Another 24 percent are from other Latin American countries. Asians make up 9 percent; Europeans and Canadians, 6 percent; and those from African and other nations, 4 percent.

The report does not specify immigrants from Middle Eastern countries.

The number of Mexican migrants, both illegal and those permitted entry, has increased almost 15-fold since 1970, from 760,000 to more than 11 million in 2004.

"This remarkable growth has been largely driven by undocumented migration," the report said. "On average, the Mexican population living in the United States has grown by about half a million people a year over the past decade. Unauthorized migrants have accounted for about 80-85 percent of that increase."

Two-thirds of the illegal immigrants live in eight states -- California, Texas, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey and North Carolina. But illegal immigrants are also fanning out into other parts of the nation in search of jobs, the report said.

Since the mid-1990s, "the most rapid growth in the immigrant population in general and the undocumented population in particular" has occurred in states immigrants typically bypassed, the report said.

For example, six states -- Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington -- had illegal immigrant populations of between 200,000 and 250,000, the report said.

The study also found that although most illegal immigrants are young adults, "there is a sizable childhood population;" an estimated 1.7 million, or one-sixth of the total, are younger than 18, the report concluded.

The survey also reported a "significant number of women" -- 29 percent.

Reyes said he believes the total is too high, saying that a more likely assessment is somewhere between 3 million and 9 million illegal immigrants.

"I would look at these estimates and studies with a kind of a jaundiced eye," he said. "I don't think there's a good way to estimate. It's like asking a fisherman how many fish did you not catch."

By the numbers

• The national population growth of illegal immigrants has averaged about a half-million a year.

• Texas has 1.4 million illegal immigrants.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Montgomery, (202) 383-6016 dmontgomery@krwashington.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; illegals; immigration; texas
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"It's like asking a fisherman how many fish did you not catch."

Good point!

1 posted on 03/22/2005 9:01:08 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
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To: conshack; Ezekiel 34; HiJinx; Bombardier; zoomie2; -=Wing_0_Walker=-; jackbenimble; ...

Exerpt: An estimated 5.9 million Mexicans are living in the United States illegally, the report says, and they are 57 percent of the total undocumented population. Another 24 percent are from other Latin American countries. Asians make up 9 percent; Europeans and Canadians, 6 percent; and those from African and other nations, 4 percent.


Please let me know if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.


2 posted on 03/22/2005 9:22:07 AM PST by SwinneySwitch (Remember, this is only a temporary exile!)
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To: archy; ozarkgirl

Illegal Immigrant Ping!


3 posted on 03/22/2005 9:42:15 AM PST by SwinneySwitch (Remember, this is only a temporary exile!)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: SwinneySwitch
Reyes said he believes the total is too high, saying that a more likely assessment is somewhere between 3 million and 9 million illegal immigrants.

Still too many.....

• Texas has 1.4 million illegal immigrants.

So, in other words, there is somewhat less than the population of San Antonio that is illegal? Like I said above, still too many.

Arrest those who employ, whether knowingly or unknowingly, illegals...and round up and deport the illegals to the INTERIOR of Mexico, NOT to just over the border! Photograph, fingerprint and DNA tag them, then inform them that if they come back, they will be put in a labor camp for twenty years...and after the twenty years will be sent back to Mexico (or whereever). Make coming to the US illegally bear a penalty beyond just being sent home!

5 posted on 03/22/2005 9:46:55 AM PST by Bombardier (Let 'er buck!)
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To: SwinneySwitch
For example, six states -- Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington -- had illegal immigrant populations of between 200,000 and 250,000, the report said.

Too low on the Georgia figure. There's that many in Metro Atlanta alone.

6 posted on 03/22/2005 10:07:38 AM PST by citizen (Yo W! Read my lips: No Amnistia by any name!)
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To: SwinneySwitch
BTTT - I faxed this to Tom Craddick, Gov. Perry, et al. with a nice little note.
7 posted on 03/22/2005 10:37:59 AM PST by Texas_Jarhead (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1366853/)
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To: SwinneySwitch
I've been listening to WOAI and every 30 mins they say 9% of us Texans are illegals.

Actually, they're saying nine out of every 100 Texans are illegals; this is so highschool graduates won't have to figure percentages.

8 posted on 03/22/2005 11:09:08 AM PST by ol' hoghead ( amn)
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To: ol' hoghead
Actually, they're saying nine out of every 100 Texans are illegals; this is so highschool graduates won't have to figure percentages.

How could they be Texans if they aren't even Americans? They are just Mexicans and other foreigners who happen to be in Texas illegally.

9 posted on 03/22/2005 11:15:36 AM PST by jackbenimble (Import the third world, become the third world)
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To: SwinneySwitch
The Arizona Republic is running a simular story about the influx of illegals and how they come to stay: link to the AZ Republic sotry
10 posted on 03/22/2005 11:19:42 AM PST by engrpat
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To: SwinneySwitch
Despite toughened border safeguards in the aftermath of 9-11,...

Thanks for the laugh.

... the population of illegal immigrants in the United States has edged steadily upward to nearly 11 million,...

Even with those new "toughened border safeguards"?

...with Texas accounting for a large share of the increase,...

Better Texas than California.

... according to a survey released Monday.

"Hello. I'm calling from the Pew Hispanic Center. Are you an illegal immigrant, a migrant, an undocumented worker, an unlawful entrant, an international nomad or any combination thereof?"

"Np hablo Ingles."

"Thank you for participating in our survey."

Texas has 1.4 million illegal immigrants, the second-largest population of undocumented residents behind California, which has 2.4 million, according to the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington.

I think California has much more than 2.4 million illegals.

11 posted on 03/22/2005 11:24:14 AM PST by DumpsterDiver
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To: ol' hoghead
...this is so highschool graduates won't have to figure percentages.

LOL

12 posted on 03/22/2005 11:26:18 AM PST by DumpsterDiver
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To: SwinneySwitch
Bienvenidos a Aztlan Amexica, Republica del Norte.

Aprenda Espanol hoy, evite la prisa manana.

13 posted on 03/22/2005 11:31:58 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: SwinneySwitch
Seems Bill O'Reilly has a petition for Pres Bush asking him to uphold his sworn duty. Here is a copy of the email I sent to all friends and folks on my personal email list. I also sent a copy to the Pres and O'Reilly. Let's get O'Reilly MILLIONS of signatures! The old count of 6 million illegal immigration law breakers is now 11 Million - 6 million Mexican and the rest your other variety of illegals.<\p>

(E-Mail) As you are aware, our elected politicians, Republican and Democrat alike, fail to do anything about illegal aliens. Bill O'Reilly has a petition on his WWW site. The petition is not ant-immigrant. The petition is for presentation to President Bush, requesting him to do his sworn duty to protect America and enforce the law.

The object is to try to roll back some of the potential disasters for our country. If you are tired of over burdened social services, high taxes and other concerns, consider signing the petition. Irked by over crowded hospital emergency wards (you pay, you pay for them, but you wait anyway)? Think the "illegals" may affect the US Dollar's value and balance of payments? (Many of the 11 million illegals send money home,) Concerned about crime, drug importation, Terrorists etc... ?

If you agree with O'Reilly, please sign the petition and forward this e-mail to others. If you disagree, that is your prerogative and I apologize if I may have disturbed you.

http://www.billoreilly.com/petitions/viewpetition?petitionID=365614436806763390

All the Best and Thanks

14 posted on 03/22/2005 2:20:51 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 4.1O dana super trac pak; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; ...

An estimated 5.9 million, eh? And yesterday we were told it was 10.3 million.

All those who think either figure approaches the truth, please raise your hands.

Right. Didn't think so...


15 posted on 03/22/2005 8:04:47 PM PST by HiJinx (~ www.ProudPatriots.org ~ Next up is Operation 4th of July)
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-

done. I know there's been a lot of controversy about O'Reilly, but he's the only major conservative talk radio host to have the .... courage.... to speak the truth on this. I sure wish Rush would take up the issue as well.


16 posted on 03/22/2005 8:14:27 PM PST by Serenissima Venezia (An engineer turning teacher (unless I come back to my senses!))
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To: SwinneySwitch
"The numbers have grown dramatically," said Hector Flores of Dallas, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "On my daily route to work, I see people on the corners looking for jobs. I think a majority of them are looking for ways to feed their families."

How about that? The national president of LULAC admitting hispanic laborers who congregate on the street corner are most likely illegal aliens.

If I had a dollar for every time some snivelling enabler whined to me "how do you know they're illegals?"

Yep, just innocently ambling down the sidewalk while brown.

17 posted on 03/22/2005 8:19:36 PM PST by primeval patriot
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To: primeval patriot
"The numbers have grown dramatically," said Hector Flores of Dallas, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "On my daily route to work, I see people on the corners looking for jobs.

I've been saying for a long time, *If* the US had all these jobs the illegals *think* we have, there wouldn't be about a million of them standing on our corners daily, looking for work.

Sheesh......we had a thread the other day re: one of LA county's "Labor Centers" (built with tax-dollars, of course). The Centers own stats showed they were only able to place ONE THIRD of the daily workers that showed up.

18 posted on 03/22/2005 8:43:04 PM PST by txdoda ("Navy Brat")
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To: HiJinx

There may be 5 million in Texas, for all we know.


19 posted on 03/22/2005 10:00:15 PM PST by TheLion
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To: txdoda

Plenty of young adults out here looking for a job.

Are they supposed to stand on a street corner with an illegal mob of foreign nationals?




20 posted on 03/23/2005 12:00:39 AM PST by primeval patriot
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