Illegal Immigration Numbers Drop
By admin at 26 February, 2009, 4:38 pm
For the first time in four years, the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has dropped, which the Homeland Security Department is chalking up to the poor economic figures.
According to federal officials, the amount of undocumented workers in the country fell to 11.6 million in January 2008 - a drop from the 11.8 million a year prior.
A number of factors may play a part in the decrease, but Jeffrey Passel, a demographer at the Pew Hispanic Center, says it’s unlikely that the ramp-up in law enforcement has played a significant part.
He told USA Today that although it does play some role in the decrease, he notes that immigration numbers doubled in the 1990s despite increases in enforcement.
Earlier this month Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano said illegal immigration had decreased in the country because a lack of jobs has kept many Mexicans from attempting to cross the border.
Napolitano also said she expects the numbers to rise again when the economy finally rebounds.
No comments yet.