Report: Past 7 years U.S.'s busiest for immigration
News
Report: Past 7 years U.S.'s busiest for immigration
By Jonathon Shacat/Wick Communications
Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 9:36 AM CST
BISBEE - The latest data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau show that the past seven years were the highest period of immigration in American history, according to a recent report released by a think tank that supports a tighter immigration policy.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a research group that examines and critiques the impact of immigration on the United States, said the information in the report is "pretty remarkable."
"On the other hand, for people who were paying attention two years ago, a lot of this wouldn't be that surprising either. But I think it does in fact burst the balloons of a lot of people," he said.
"For instance, there has been this talking point, at least in Washington, that immigration probably peaked in the 1990s and it has moderated already, and it's not that big a deal, and people are getting too exercised about it," he continued.
The population of legal and illegal immigrants in the United States reached a record of more than 37 million people in 2007, according to the report. More than 11 million are illegal immigrants. The figures do not include the people missed by the current population survey. The report estimates that 10 percent of illegal immigrants were not counted.
In Arizona, there are an estimated 579,000 illegal immigrants. They represent 65 percent of the foreign-born population, 9 percent of the total state population and 12 percent of workers.
The report provides a detailed picture of the number and socio-economic status of the nation's immigrant or foreign-born population - both legal and illegal. The 44-page report was written by Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, using data collected by the Census Bureau in March.
In the nation, immigrants and their children under 18 account for one-fifth of the school-age population, one-fourth of those in poverty and nearly one-third of people without health insurance. They create enormous challenges for the schools, health care system and physical infrastructure, according to the report.
About 31 percent of immigrants have not completed high school. The low educational attainment of many immigrants is the main reason so many of them live in poverty, use welfare programs or lack health insurance. It is not because of their legal status or an unwillingness to work.
"A central question for immigration policy is whether we should allow in so many people with little education - increasing job competition for the poorest American workers and the population needing government assistance," the report says.
According to the report, at least half of the 10.3 million immigrants who have arrived in the U.S. since 2000 are illegal. Overall, nearly one in three immigrants is illegal. Half of Mexican and Central American immigrants are illegal. One-third of South American immigrants are illegal.
About 47 percent of all immigrants and their children under 18 are on Medicaid or are uninsured. About 33 percent of immigrant-headed households use at least one welfare program, compared to about 19 percent for natives. About 50 percent of households headed by a Mexican immigrant used at least one welfare program.
"The problem is we are admitting 19th century workers into a 21st century society. What do you expect is going to happen?" Krikorian said. "It's not so much an indictment of the individual Mexican immigrants. It's an indictment of a policy that admits people who are a mismatch for the United States."
According to the report, 82 percent of immigrant households nationally have at least one worker in the household, compared to just 73 percent of native households. About 78 percent of immigrant households using a welfare program has at least one worker.
Also, the report shows that immigrants do make significant economic progress the longer they are in the country. But, immigrants once closed the gap with natives much more quickly.
"Of course, we could change immigration policy and allow fewer immigrants into the country who have little formal education. If we did that, then immigrants who arrive in the future would almost certainly have incomes that match those of natives from the time they arrive in the United States or soon thereafter," the report says.
The aim of the report is to provide information about the impact of immigration on American society. The Center for Immigration Studies hopes the report will better inform the discussion about what policies should be adopted.
"Absent a change in policy, 15 million additional legal and illegal immigrants will likely arrive in the next 10 years. Thus immigration's impact will continue to grow if current trends continue," the report says.
Sierra Vista Herald Reporter Jonathon Shacat can be reached at 515-4693 or by e-mail at jonathon.shacat@bisbeereview.net.
Copyright © 2007 - Arizona Range News
[x] Close Window
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/article ... /news8.txt
