Thread: Poll: What is causing decline in illegal immigration?

Poll: What is causing decline in illegal immigration?
August 4th, 2008, 11:53 am · 4 Comments · posted by Erin Carlyle

I read an interesting study that attributes a decline in illegal immigration to an enforcement crack-down.

The Center for Immigration Studies, which bills itself as a non-partisan think tank but typically publishes information with a more restrictionist perspective, released the study last week.

According to a CIS analysis of U.S. Census data, the number of less-educated, Hispanic immigrants aged 18-40 in the country has declined since peaking in August 2007. The group estimates that the illegal population has dropped from 12.5 million to 11.2 million.

CIS says stronger enforcement, as well as the weaker economy, is the likely cause for the decline. As we’ve reported before, 1,267 bills have been considered in 45 state legislatures this year, and 175 laws have been enacted in 39 states.

But the Immigration Policy Center, the research arm of the American Immigration Law Foundation, which tends to favor more open immigration policies, criticized the CIS report. This group says the drop in illegal immigration is due to economic factors rather than a step-up in enforcement.

In the debate over illegal immigration, it can be difficult to sort out the issues. For instance, no one really knows how many illegal immigrants are here in the United States, how much they cost the health care system, or how much they are contributing to the economy — and lower prices — through their labor.

What do you think is causing the estimated reduction in illegal immigration?

POLL:
Why is illegal immigration declining? It’s the economy — less jobs means less immigration
Enforcement — fear of deportation keeps people home
Both the economy and enforcement
I don’t know
VOTE
http://immigration.freedomblogging.com/ ... migration/

Why is illegal immigration declining?
It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 103 39% of all votes
Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 15 6% of all votes
Both the economy and enforcement 134 50% of all votes
I don't know 14 5% of all votes
Total Votes: 266

Why is illegal immigration declining?
It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 10339% of all votes
Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 166% of all votes
Both the economy and enforcement 13450% of all votes
I don't know 145% of all votes
Total Votes: 267

What do you think is causing the estimated reduction in illegal immigration?

Why is illegal immigration declining?
It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 103 38% of all votes
Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 17 6% of all votes
Both the economy and enforcement 137 51% of all votes
I don't know

Why is illegal immigration declining?

It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 175
36% of all votes

Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 29
6% of all votes

Both the economy and enforcement 252
52% of all votes

I don't know 25
5% of all votes

Total Votes: 481

Why is illegal immigration declining?

It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 175 36% of all votes

Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 29 6% of all votes

Both the economy and enforcement 253 52% of all votes

I don't know 25 5% of all votes

Total Votes: 482

Started: August 4, 2008

We need MORE enforcement, especially while the economy is this bad. We need to keep enforcement up permanently, until illegal immigration is no more.

Why is illegal immigration declining?
It's the economy -- less jobs means less immigration 17536% of all votes
Enforcement -- fear of deportation keeps people home 296% of all votes
Both the economy and enforcement 257 53% of all votes
I don't know 255% of all votes
Total Votes: 486

Started: August 4, 2008