Illegal immigration declines sharply in California, across the country, report says

After years of rapid growth, illegal immigration is slowing down in California and across the country, with the state’s share of the nation’s estimated 11.1 million undocumented immigrants dropping to 23% from 42% in 1990, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The slowdown in California mirrors the overall reduction in the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S, according the study by the Pew Hispanic Center. The number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. dropped to 11.1 million in 2009 from a peak of 12 million in 2007 – what the study’s researchers called the “first significant reversal” in illegal immigrant growth over the last two decades.

Fewer illegal immigrants came to the U.S. every year between 2007 and 2009 than in the years in the first half of the decade, the study found. About 300,000 illegal immigrants entered the U.S. each year between 2007 and 2009, a drop from the 850,000 new unauthorized immigrants that entered each year between 2000 and 2005.

The study, which is drawn largely from Census data and labor statistics, cited the recession and increased border enforcement as possible reasons for the slowdown. Several South Atlantic states between Delaware and Georgia that have become new immigrant magnets in recent years have also seen a decline in its illegal migrant population, according to the study.

California still has the largest concentration of illegal immigrants in the nation with 2.6 million, which is about 1 million more living in the state than in 1990, according to the report.

The study echoes the findings of a report issued earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which concluded that illegal immigration had declined by nearly 1 million between 2008 and 2009. This was the second consecutive year of decline and sharpest decrease in at least three decades.

-- My-Thuan Tran

Comments

[obama]

Ok well let's get rid of the 11 million illegal freeloading baby breeders we still have here.

[London]

Good. Hopefully this continues until there are none left in California.

[jennifer C]

What else can you say but Hooray!!!

[Billy]

Illegal immigrantion declines sharply in California. The best news Ive heard all year!

[BGZ]

bull crap, I don't believe this finding for one second.

[Matt S.]

They've realized the American dream only applies to European illegal immigrants.

[Cali Born]

Thats 300,000 a year too many.The Valley is friggin tiajuana!! It sucks.
The mexican culture is NOt the most ambitious- yes hard workers, but they are here to take advantage.
Mexico is a fine and beautiful place to live. There is No reason we tax payers need to be supporting them or businesses who use them for cheap labor. They work hard but expect less then Americans. Give Americans a fair wage and medical ins. They are first in line- not illegals!!!!
AMERICANS first- and not anchor babies--hello!!!!

[jschneiter]

There are more in Long BEach than ever before.
I don't know where this guy finds sources, but they are not very good. All you have to do is drive around they are everywhere. going through trash, standing around at home depot, walking the streets at night after leaving their restaurant job. The real estimate on illegal aliens is 20 million + but that does not help the liberal agenda. so they say, oh there is only 10-14 million.
Here is a thought. If only 10% of the illegal population took up arms. there would be a foriegn army within our border numbering in the miilions. SO I guess maybe it is a national security issue. Why doesn't the LA Times do a story about that???

[Kevin]

If we can count the ILLEGALS, why can't we send them home?

[Chuck]

Thank you Arizona

[mark]

are you kidding me... like the illegals tell the census workers they are here illegally... this is absolutely the dumbest person; group of people that are walking on earth.

[Adam]

Obviously they meant to say 11 million in California...

These stats are about as accurate as the ones which are cited to show economic growth... yeah the ones that are essentially made up to prove a political point.

[Amy]

Interesting. I would have loved to see how this co-relates with unemployment and crime rates since some people believe illegal immigration is somewhat responsible for these.
I personally think that once something has the term "illegal", its not likely to be a good thing. Undocument sounds more like a better term and doesnt scape goat anyone.

[curiousprl]

Oh yeah right. How can anyone possibly have an accurate count on illegals? They are illegals, no documents, no ID, no SS#...they are ghosts. But you just see them walking around amongst us. Specially if you go to Walmart, Costco, Ross,and other bargain bulk stores.

[Axel]

As citizens of Mexico and other central American states stay home, watch to see their economies rebound.

Too many foreign nationals who seek to become illegal aliens in America mortgage their homes and obtain other forms of credit to pay the cartels/coyotes.

As they stay home, the credit and other capital available to them will be used to start business and improve their own nations. As they stay home, they will be consumers of services and products their brothers and sisters, neighbors and fellow citizens produce.

Controlled migration means improved economies for all nations involved.

The best part is they will be spending this money on improving their own lives, countries and regions rather than paying the cartels. I cannot emphasize the impact enough!

[Dave]

Arizona Law is working and it's good.

[Baffled Observer]

As the US becomes poorer and opportunities for anyone but the well-connected evaporate, we will see less and less immigration, legal or illegal. This is what's called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Most likely, we'll see more people leaving--everyone who can.

[Judy]

It would be good news if it were true. Consider the people doing the report, consider their agenda and you just know the report is skewed!

[Dianna Salazar]

How can they say that when there was several illegals apprehended in Carlsbad today! Fresh off the boat!!

[Nery Cerna]

get them all out. it's time for them to leave.

[jojo]

One million down...11 million to go

[some guy]

pure fabrication!!!!

[dee]

Jennifer C Horray! what intelligence! no wonder people around the world say Americans are not very smart, remarks like yours and Billy's lack any real insight and are just plain stupid!

[Aaron Rodriguez]

do not let them full you

[chatmandu]

Don't believe it for a minute. Consider the source and where they got the information. I don't think they count the illegals that have been here 10+ years. They count them as legal now.