Mar 31, 1:02 PM EDT

Study: Dip in immigrant share of Calif population

By JACOB ADELMAN
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A study finds that immigrants' share of California's population has declined to less than 27 percent after peaking three years ago.

Authors of the University of Southern California study released Wednesday say the dip suggests that the economic downturn and stepped-up border enforcement has discouraged fresh immigration.

California's foreign-born population was estimated at 26.6 percent this year, down from a peak of 27.4 percent in 2007.

Lead author Dowell Myers says the research shows that homegrown Californians, not foreign-born immigrants, are increasingly the main beneficiaries of public education and other social spending.

The study is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal sources.

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