The flow of unauthorized immigrants is down sharply, according to a September 1 report by Pew Hispanic Center. The 8 percent reduction from 12 million to 11.1 million illegals currently living in the U.S. marks the first significant reversal in this population in two decades. The number is nearly two-thirds smaller in the period from March 2007 to March 2009 than from March 2000 to March 2005.

The Pew Hispanic Center, one of seven projects of the Washington, D.C.-based think-tank Pew Research Center, provides information about issues, trends, and attitudes shaping the U.S. and the world.

A graph from the Center’s website shows that an average of 850,000 illegals entered the U.S. each year from 2000 to 2005. By 2007, that estimate had dropped to 300,000, a decrease of over 550,000 per year.

The Pew report also found that from 2007 to 2009, the most marked decline in the unauthorized immigrant population (22 percent) was among those from Latin American countries other than Mexico — the Caribbean, and South and Central America.

From 2008 to 2009, the U.S. decline has been most notable in the South and Southeast — Virginia and Florida, and in the Southwest — Arizona, Colorado and Utah. In an ABC News report, Jeffrey Passel, senior Pew demographer, commented on the downward trend: "It's a rather large decline and [is] sustained over two years. This is something we haven't seen before. There is constant in-and-out movement among immigrants. But what's changed most is the number coming in."

The data for these new estimates come mainly from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and decennial (every ten years) census. Pew uses the widely-accepted residual method to determine its estimate of the unauthorized population: The estimate of the legal foreign-born population is simply subtracted from that of the total foreign-born population.

Though the report gives no reasons for the decline, both the increased border security and the economic downturn north of the border have no doubt played roles. Passel notes, "Because it's harder to get in [to the U.S.] — and when you get in you may not be able to find a job — fewer appear to be trying." Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained and deported an increasing number of illegal immigrants since 2001, removing 387,000 last year alone — a seventh consecutive record high.

The ferocious violence along the Texas/Mexico border is also deterring many prospective immigrants from Mexico as well as Central America. In a New American report about 72 migrants massacred in northern Mexico last week, a Nicaraguan traveling to Texas declared, "I wanted to reach the U.S., but when I saw what the situation was, what was happening to other migrants, I realized things could get worse for me.”

Photo: AP Images

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Jack Smyth said:

New Immigration Bill Proposal - No Amnesty, No Round-ups, Saves $400 billion I am tired of being one of the few people who knows about this new immigration bill BUIRA. Why are so many news outlets refusing to report it? Go read this article and tell someone else because once everyone knows about it, we can debate it (I can't debate with myself). More BUIRA details: New Immigration Bill Avoids Amnesty, http://xelanbonn.com/3540/new-...s-amnesty/

September 03, 2010

Jay said:

@Jack Smyth The bill looks solid to me. However, the two things that are desperately needed as follow ons are: The enforce of hiring illegal immigrants. A double wall fence along the entire southern border that is augmented with reliable electronic surveillance. I read an article on this site the other day that spoke about how Janet Napolitano cancelled a $50M project that had shown promise with working out the bugs with an electronic surveillance system, only to fund the "temporary" 1,200 NG troops authorized by Obama. As such, the real danger would be letting Obama get away with not funding fence building, which brings me to my last point. The stimulus should have included the necessary funds to construct the fencing and electronic surveillance systems over the next three years.

September 04, 2010

jerry said:

Mr if yyou want come heree legally you must have and care your passport wwith yyou.

September 04, 2010

R Jensen said:

Border So this is how Obama plans to keep illegal immigrants out--tank the economy so that there are no jobs here for anyone--legal or illegal.

September 04, 2010