Undocumented immigrants close to 11 million

Undocumented immigrants close to 11 million
Report: Demand for outside workers still strong in United States

Dario Lopez-Mills / AP file
People prepare to cross illegally into the United States through a tunnel along the Rio Grande in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in January. The undocumented U.S. immigrant population surged last year, according to a report released Monday.

The Associated Press
Updated: 4:40 p.m. ET March 21, 2005WASHINGTON - The nation’s undocumented immigrant population surged to 10.3 million last year, spurred largely since 2000 by the arrivals of unauthorized Mexicans in the United States, according to a report released Monday.

The population of undocumented residents in the United States increased by about 23 percent from 8.4 million in the four-year period ending last March, according to the analysis of government data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a private research group.

That equates to a net increase of roughly 485,000 per year between 2000 and 2004. The estimate was derived by subtracting the number of unauthorized immigrants who leave the United States, die or acquire legal status from the number of new undocumented immigrants that arrive each year.

The prospect of better job opportunities in the United States than in their native countries remains a powerful lure for many immigrants, said Pew center director Roberto Suro, pointing to a reason often cited by other researchers.

“The border has been the focus of federal efforts (to cut illegal entry) and has not produced a reduction in flow. Certainly that’s an indication of ongoing demand,� he said.

Population grows despite economy
The population is growing at a similar pace as in the late 1990s even though the U.S. economy today isn’t as robust, Suro said.

Assuming the flow of undocumented immigrants into the country hasn’t abated since March 2004, the population is likely near 11 million now.

The report considered “undocumented� immigrants primarily as those here illegally; those in the United States on expired visas; or those who violated the terms of their admission in other ways.

Also included are a small percentage of immigrants who may have legal authorization to be in the United States, including those with temporary protected status and those applying to seek asylum.

57 percent from Mexico
Mexicans by far remain the largest group of undocumented migrants at 5.9 million, or about 57 percent of the March 2004 estimate. Some 2.5 million others, or 24 percent, are from other Latin American countries.

Overall, the U.S. foreign-born population, regardless of legal status, was 35.7 million last year. Those of Mexican descent again comprised the largest group â€â€

"Critics of the plan argue that such workers drive down wages because they often work for lower pay and fewer benefits that native-born residents."

No kidding.
Some people are finally waking up and realizing that wages stagnate when there is plenty of labor supply.

I don't believe that 11 million number at all. I think it's more like the number Bears Stern gave out like 18-20 million, maybe more. If the government is willing to admit to a certain number, you know it's got to be at least 2 to 3 times that number. The government is the masters of deception and propaganda, remember that.

I love how convinently the media ignores the Bears Stern number and goes off the Hispanic Pew Center number like it's gospel. These no talent hacks in the media are so lazy. They all just copy each other instead of doing their own research or ask the real tough questions.