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Undocumented Immigration on the decrease suggests latest census data

Census Bureau’s survey shows 28 percent of US immigrants have no visas, campaigners call on government to act

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, December 8, 2012, 8:24 AM

Updated Saturday, December 8, 2012, 8:24 AM

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The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States dropped from 12 million to 11.1 million, between 2007 and 2011, according to new Census Bureau data.

Photo by David Franklin

The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States dropped from 12 million to 11.1 million, between 2007 and 2011, according to new Census Bureau data.

The analysis from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey shows that 28 percent of immigrants in the United States are undocumented, 31 percent are legal permanent residents, and 37 percent are naturalized United States citizens.

The economic difficulties in the US and stronger border enforcement are believed to be the reasons for this drop.

These results have surfaced as the Republican Party have begun see the need for immigration reform in the United States following Mitt Romney’s failure to win the Hispanic vote.

Earlier this week, former Republican President, George W Bush, called on the US government to begin a discussion on immigration reform with a “benevolent spirit”. He added “Immigrants have helped build the country that we have become, and immigrants can help build a dynamic tomorrow.”

Jose Antonio Vargas, 31, a journalist from the Philippines spoke to the Associated Press on the issue of immigration reform. He said “The priority now is to push a vigorous debate about the undocumented people already here.”

Vargas is part of the campaign group Define American, along with the young immigrant group United We Dream.

He added "We want to become citizens and not face the threat of deportation or be treated as second class.

"This conversation is a question about how we as a nation define who is an American…If you want us to pay a fine to become a citizen, OK. If you want us to pay back taxes, absolutely. If you want us to speak English, I speak English. But we can't tread water on this issue anymore."

A senior demographer at the Pew Research Center and a former Census Bureau official, Jeffrey Passel, said U.S. immigration policies will have a significant impact in shaping a future United States labor force. This labor force is projected to shrink by 2030 as aging white baby boomers begin to retire. However South American immigration, which helped to fill needs in farming, home health care and lower waged jobs, has leveled off.

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Pittsburghkid | Dec 12, 2012, 07:36 PM EST

The Bad Obama Economy is doing the job. Or is it still Bush's economy?

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merefalow | Dec 09, 2012, 04:28 PM EST

YOU HAVE LOST YOUR COUNTRY USA.

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Seanmor | Dec 08, 2012, 02:14 PM EST

The term "reform" as it applies to immigration is simply a code word for full amnesty and prompt citizenship for all illegal aniens. In other words, "reform" means rewarding foreigners for violating U.S. laws. The so-called Dream Act, as I understood it, would have cleared an ILLEGAL alien for citizenship if he/she were found not to have a criminal record in a 48-hour investigation. When I applied for naturalization, I was photogranped and finger-printed, and then investigated for about 7 weeks before my application was approved. As an HONORABLY discharged vetern of 4 years in the Marine Corps, my investigation took about 48 days, not 48 hours. Whatever happened to the great American idea of 'equel treatment for all'? I personally know other LEGAL immigrants from Ireland who worked a lot harder and paid much more taxes that I ever did, yet they experiences much harsher treatment than I from the city, state or nation because of their immigrant status.

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BajaRat | Dec 08, 2012, 01:59 PM EST

Here we go again. On the heels of a National Academy of Science report that we don't have the data so show how many people cross the border illegally, the Pew Hispanic Center tells us that people are no longer crossing the border illegally in large numbers. Funny, but Jeffrey Passel of the Pew Hispanic Center was on the NAS panel that did the border study. Maybe he didn't read his own report. NAS says one of the reasons they don't have enough data is that the DHS won't let them have apprehension reports. If DHS did release its data, it would show a huge increase in illegal border crossers near Tucson in the past few months. DHS data would also show that the U.S. Border Patrol chases illegal aliens all over the map - up to 75 miles from the border. It is absolutely ridiculous! DHS data would also show that when a proper fence is installed, apprehensions plummet – but we can't have that! As we get into the debate over "comprehensive immigration reform" you can bank on seeing more border bullsh*t as the lefties try to confuse the issue as much as possible.

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HarumphtyDumpty | Dec 08, 2012, 01:27 PM EST

Nobody is saying that Africa needs diversity.   Nobody is saying that Asia needs diversity.   They are already 100% diverse.   People are only telling white children in white countries that they need diversity.   White Countries will be 100% diverse when there are no white people left.   Diversity is a code-word for white genocide. Anti-racist is a code word for anti-White.

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