Half of Mexican and Central American immigrants immigrants are illegal

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This Backgrounder 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 data was collected by the Census Bureau in March 2007.

Among the report’s findings:

* The nation’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached a record of 37.9 million in 2007.

* Immigrants account for one in eight U.S. residents, the highest level in 80 years. In 1970 it was one in 21; in 1980 it was one in 16; and in 1990 it was one in 13.

* Overall, nearly one in three immigrants is an illegal alien. Half of Mexican and Central American immigrants and one-third of South American immigrants are illegal.

* Since 2000, 10.3 million immigrants have arrived — the highest seven-year period of immigration in U.S. history. More than half of post-2000 arrivals (5.6 million) are estimated to be illegal aliens.

* The largest increases in immigrants were in California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

* Of adult immigrants, 31 percent have not completed high school, compared to 8 percent of natives. Since 2000, immigration increased the number of workers without a high school diploma by 14 percent, and all other workers by 3 percent.

* The share of immigrants and natives who are college graduates is about the same. Immigrants were once much more likely than natives to be college graduates.

* The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 33 percent, compared to 19 percent for native households.

* The poverty rate for immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) is 17 percent, nearly 50 percent higher than the rate for natives and their children.

* 34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.

* Immigrants make significant progress over time. But even those who have been here for 20 years are more likely to be in poverty, lack insurance, or use welfare than are natives.

* The primary reason for the high rates of immigrant poverty, lack of health insurance, and welfare use is their low education levels, not their legal status or an unwillingness to work.

* Of immigrant households, 82 percent have at least one worker compared to 73 percent of native households.

* There is a worker present in 78 percent of immigrant households using at least one welfare program.

* Immigration accounts for virtually all of the national increase in public school enrollment over the last two decades. In 2007, there were 10.8 million school-age children from immigrant families in the United States.

* Immigrants and natives have similar rates of entrepreneurship — 13 percent of natives and 11 percent of immigrants are self-employed.

* Recent immigration has had no significant impact on the nation’s age structure. Without the 10.3 million post-2000 immigrants, the average age in America would be virtually unchanged at 36.5 years.

Source: http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

[Nessa 23]

[JODO 2]

Not shocked.

[JODO 2]

* The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 33 percent, compared to 19 percent for native households.

Source: http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

* The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 33 percent, compared to 19 percent for native households.

Source: http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

You trying to say something?

[JODO 2]

* The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 33 percent, compared to 19 percent for native households.

Source: http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

You trying to say something?

I don't need to try to say anything. If I want to say something I will. Those numbers speak for themselves.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

* The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 33 percent, compared to 19 percent for native households.

Source: http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back1007.html

You trying to say something?

I don't need to try to say anything. If I want to say something I will. Those numbers speak for themselves.

Ok. I thought you were implying the conclusion was wrong with the 'no' emoticon.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

* 34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.

Oh, and by the way - doesn't this mean that the health insurance debate should really be an immigration debate?

[JODO 2]

* 34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.

Oh, and by the way - doesn't this mean that the health insurance debate should really be an immigration debate?

Well it does appear that way. However still we have 13% of Americans lacking health insurance and that's at least 35 million. That is not a small number.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

Not shocked.

ditto

[peejay 327]

Not shocked.

ditto

It pretty much quantifies what a lot of us have said all along...our government is importing large numbers of poverty and high school drop-outs...and a big portion of it is illegal aliens.

Anybody that grew up in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's can see a big change in the America we grew up in...and it ain't for the better for a vast majority of the American people.

The wealth of the USA is trickling up. What ever happened to Ronald Reagan's "trickle down" school of economics?

One thing is for sure...illegal immigration has exploded since King George took office in 2000 and made it the policy of his administration not to enforce immigration or workplace laws. The stats reflect the chickens coming to roost.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Not shocked.

ditto

It pretty much quantifies what a lot of us have said all along...our government is importing large numbers of poverty and high school drop-outs...and a big portion of it is illegal aliens.

Anybody that grew up in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's can see a big change in the America we grew up in...and it ain't for the better for a vast majority of the American people.

The wealth of the USA is trickling up. What ever happened to Ronald Reagan's "trickle down" school of economics?

One thing is for sure...illegal immigration has exploded since King George took office in 2000 and made it the policy of his administration not to enforce immigration or workplace laws. The stats reflect the chickens coming to roost.

Part and parcel to a consumerist economy driven by the free market. Rethink and revamp our economic policies for any real, long term solution.

[Dan J 277]

* 34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.

Oh, and by the way - doesn't this mean that the health insurance debate should really be an immigration debate?

Well it does appear that way. However still we have 13% of Americans lacking health insurance and that's at least 35 million. That is not a small number.

We are up to about 46 million now without health insurance. And in many states, that number is going up, not down.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

We are up to about 46 million now without health insurance. And in many states, that number is going up, not down.

How about we deport all illegal immigrants who don't have health insurance?

[peejay 327]

* 34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.

Oh, and by the way - doesn't this mean that the health insurance debate should really be an immigration debate?

Well it does appear that way. However still we have 13% of Americans lacking health insurance and that's at least 35 million. That is not a small number.

We are up to about 46 million now without health insurance. And in many states, that number is going up, not down.

Lots of numbers, but what are the implications? The numbers are up, but so is the US population (and that is going up...not down too).

How about the percentage of the US population without health insurance in 1967, 1977, 1987, and 1997 as compared to 2007?

I don't know if that data will produce a root cause why roughly 15% of the US population today lacks health insurance, but at least we would know the historical norms.

When I worked at an oil tool factory in the early 1970's, the janitors that cleaned the restrooms were employees of the factory and got the same health insurance as the machinists and office workers. Now they are most likely illegal aliens employed by a sub-contractor to do the janitor duties in the corporate office and they get paid only wages with no benefits. Not to mention...the manufacturing of the same oil tools has now been shipped overseas and the oil tools imported back into the US to drill US wells.

It may boost the bottom line of the corporations, but what does that do for the average American? How does that benefit our American society as a whole?