Outward bound: Illegal immigrants leaving voluntarily

The Oklahoman Editorial

A central tenet in the long-running debate over illegal immigration is that the number of people already living in the United States illegally is so large little can be done to get them to go home. Thus, most comprehensive reform plans include controversial provisions to confer citizenship on illegals — usually after a waiting period, payment of fines and other conditions.

A new analysis of census data argues enforcement activities other than deportation apparently are working in getting illegal immigrants to return home voluntarily. The study, prepared by the Center for Immigration Studies, found that the illegal immigrant population may have declined by 1 million in the past year, a result of tighter workplace controls, border enforcement and economic conditions here.

The center, which describes itself as pro-immigrant but prefers a low immigration rate, analyzed monthly census data that it said suggest the number of less-educated, young Hispanic immigrants has declined 1.3 million or 11 percent through May after peaking in August 2007.

The estimated decline is at least seven times larger than the number of illegal immigrants removed by the government over the past 10 months, the study said, meaning most are leaving the United States on their own.

The study's authors said the illegal population grew while Congress was considering immigration reform last year, but numbers began to fall "almost immediatelyâ€