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Study finds fewer illegal immigrants entering the U.S.

By SUSAN CARROLL
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 1, 2010, 10:37PM
The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States
Share annually has declined by nearly two-thirds since 2007 — marking
a significant shift after years of growth, according to a new study
Del.icio.us Digg
by the Pew Hispanic Center.
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An average of 850,000 people a year entered the United States
Facebook StumbleUpon illegally between 2000 and 2005, according to estimates in the
Email Pew report released on Wednesday. As the nation's economy
skidded into recession, that number dropped to about 300,000
annually between 2007 and 2009, researchers noted in the report,
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this. which is based on an analysis of U.S. Census data.
While some states saw declines in the sizes of their
undocumented populations, researchers estimated that Texas'
grew from about 1.4 million in 2005 to 1.6 million in 2009. Illegal
immigrants accounted for roughly 6.5 percent of the state's total
Resources population, ranking behind only California and Nevada in terms of
percentages.
BY THE NUMBERS Researchers credited the ailing economy and stepped up border
Estimated illegal immigrant population: enforcement with the decline in the illegal immigrant population,
Nation which peaked at an estimated 12 million in 2007 before dropping Lockdown at Dobie High ends; woman
to an estimated 11.1 million in 2009 - a decline of about 8 percent. hospitalized
• 2009: 11.1 million Missing mentally challenged woman found safe
"While people are arguing the government is not stopping illegal
• 2008: 11.6 million immigration, our data suggests the flow of undocumented Houston City Council OKs gas exploration
immigrants sneaking into the country has dropped dramatically," beneath parks
• 2005: 11.1 million
said Jeffrey Passel, the lead researcher on the Pew study. One killed in southwest Houston shooting
• 2000: 8.375 million Astros keep rolling, sweep aside Cardinals
The Pew report comes as the Obama administration faces
• 1990: 3.525 million mounting pressure to ramp up security along the Southwest
Texas border. Homeland Security officials issued a statement on ICE turns a blind eye(468)
Wednesday crediting increased border enforcement with the drop Obama to honor troops as Iraq combat mission
• 2009: 1.6 million in illegal crossings reported by Pew. The president recently ends(376)
• 2008: 1.4 million authorized 1,200 National Guard troops to head to the NH teen who zapped nipples during shop class
U.S./Mexico border and added unmanned drone flights over sues(232)
• 2005: 1.4 million
Texas. 72 slayings reveal just how deadly crossing
• 2000: 1.1 million Mexico can be(206)
"Never has there been as much enforcement as there is now in
• 1990: 450,000 terms of agents and in terms of the technology," said Nestor Pair charged with shooting 4-year-old(152)
Rodriguez, a sociology professor from the University of Texas at
Source: Pew Hispanic Center, based on
Austin who specializes in immigration issues.
U.S. Census data analysis Six arrested in string of Fort Bend burglaries
Still, Rodriguez said, the economy has been a key driver in the
Missing mentally challenged woman found safe
decrease in flow of illegal immigrants.
Overtime issue prompts lawsuit by deputies
"The economy is flat, so there is less enthusiasm to come here," he said. union
Researchers noted a sharp decline in illegal immigration from Mexico, which accounts for an estimated 60 I-45 tops TxDOT list of state's most congested
percent of the nation's undocumented population. roadways
According to Pew's estimates, an average of 150,000 illegal immigrants from Mexico arrived annually from 2007 Study: Fewer illegal immigrants entering the U.S.
to 2009, about 70 percent below the annual average of 500,000 during the first half of the decade. Houston City Council OKs gas exploration
The number of illegal immigrants from Mexico peaked in 2007 at 7 million and has since leveled off, the study beneath parks
found. Tax assessor, nonprofit spar over Harris County
The study estimated the total number of illegal immigrants in the nation's workforce at 7.8 million, or about 5 voter rolls
percent of the total. Texas had a higher share than the national average. An estimated 1 million illegal
immigrants were in Texas' labor force in 2009 - about 8.7 percent of the total.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for stricter immigration

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7182594.html Page 1 of 3
Study: Fewer illegal immigrants entering the U.S. | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle 10-09-02 2:35 AM

controls, said the report helps show that a strategy of "attrition through enforcement" works.
"This tells me that the illegal population is not an unstoppable force," he said. "If we enforce the law across the
board, we can in fact get a significant number of illegal immigrants to leave."
Cesar Espinosa, a Houston immigrant advocate, said the Pew's report shows a "staggering" decline in the flow
of illegal immigration.
"This actually invalidates a lot of the arguments that the right wing is making, saying that immigration is up and
our border is out of control," Espinosa said. "It supports our point that immigration has been decreasing because
of the global economic crisis. To say that the borders are open and people are coming in in massive numbers is
once again shown to be a lie."
susan.carroll@chron.com

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Comment

breland wrote:
It doesn't matter that the numbers are decreasing, which I doubt. One illegal immigrant using
resources meant for citizens is too many. One job taken by an illegal is entirely too many
especially with unemployment at 10%. This article does nothing to change my mind on this
(0) issue.
9/1/2010 10:49:26 PM
Recommend: (2) (1) [Report abuse]

breland wrote:
It doesn't matter that the numbers are decreasing, which I doubt. One illegal immigrant using
resources meant for citizens is too many. One job taken by an illegal is entirely too many
especially with unemployment at 10%. This article does nothing to change my mind on this
(0) issue.
9/1/2010 10:49:26 PM
Recommend: (2) (1) [Report abuse]

Read all comments (2 ) »

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