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Immigrant population rises to 35 million
Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:25 AM ET



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of immigrants living in the United States has risen to more than 35 million, or 12.4 percent of the population from 11.1 percent five years ago, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday.

Of the total, nearly 17 million are of Hispanic descent, the bureau said of the figures complied for 2005, reflecting the heavy flow of people seeking work from Mexico and other South American countries.

California had the most people born outside of the United States at 27.2 percent of its population.

Some cities in California had more than a third of their population foreign-born. In Los Angeles, the figure was 40.3 percent and in San Jose, 37.9 percent.

Some states not traditionally associated with large immigrant populations had more than one out of 10 people born outside the United States. Massachusetts had 14.4 percent born elsewhere; Rhode Island 12.6 percent; Washington state 12.2 percent; and Maryland 11.7 percent.

At the other extreme, only 1.1 percent of West Virginia's population was born outside the United States while Mississippi, Montana and North Dakota all had 2 percent or less.

Among large cities, Detroit with 6.3 percent and Indianapolis with 6.7 percent were half the national average.

Immigration and border security have become divisive issues in the United States. Congressional conservatives want tighter enforcement of northern and southern borders, while others, including President George W. Bush, back legislation that would put most of the estimated 11 to 12 million immigrants in the country illegally on a path to U.S. citizenship.