From the Daily Beast:
Immigration to the U.S. from Mexico has virtually stopped, the Pew Research Center says in a new study released Monday. Citing data from Mexican and U.S. government sources, the study says that a weakened American economy, fewer employment opportunities, and stricter immigration enforcement have combined to keep many would-be migrants south of the border. The numbers have been on the decline for years—1 million immigrants were caught trying to cross the border in 2005, but six years later that number had dropped to 286,000. Constituting the largest influx of immigrants from a single country that the United States has ever seen, about 12 million Mexicans came to the country over the past 40 years.
The Pew Center key findings:
- In the five-year period from 2005 to 2010, about 1.4 million Mexicans immigrated to the United States and about 1.4 million Mexican immigrants and their U.S.-born children moved from the United States to Mexico.
- In the five-year period a decade earlier (1995 to 2000), about 3 million Mexicans had immigrated to the U.S. and fewer than 700,000 Mexicans and their U.S. born-children had moved from the U.S. to Mexico.
- This sharp downward trend in net migration has led to the first significant decrease in at least two decades in the number of unauthorized Mexican immigrants living in the U.S.—to 6.1 million in 2011, down from a peak of nearly 7 million in 2007. Over the same period the number of authorized Mexican immigrants rose modestly, from 5.6 million in 2007 to 5.8 million in 2011.
- Mexicans now comprise about 58% of the unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. They also account for 30% of all U.S. immigrants. The next largest country of origin for U.S. immigrants, China, accounts for just 5% of the nation’s stock of nearly 40 million immigrants.
- Apprehensions of Mexicans trying to cross the border illegally have plummeted by more than 70% in recent years, from more than 1 million in 2005 to 286,000 in 2011—a likely indication that fewer unauthorized immigrants are trying to cross. This decline has occurred at a time when funding in the U.S. for border enforcement—including more agents and more fencing—has risen sharply.
- As apprehensions at the border have declined, deportations of unauthorized Mexican immigrants—some of them picked up at work or after being arrested for other criminal violations—have risen to record levels. In 2010, nearly 400,000 unauthorized immigrants—73% of them Mexicans—were deported by U.S. authorities.
- Although most unauthorized Mexican immigrants sent home by U.S. authorities say they plan to try to return, a growing share say they will not try to come back to the U.S. According to a survey by Mexican authorities of repatriated immigrants, 20% of labor migrants in 2010 said they would not return, compared with just 7% in 2005.
- Looking back over the entire span of U.S. history, no country has ever sent as many immigrants to this country as Mexico has in the past four decades. However, when measured not in absolute numbers but as a share of the immigrant population at the time, immigration waves from Germany and Ireland in the late 19th century equaled or exceeded the modern wave from Mexico.
This latest report would surely alter some election plans of the GOP. It would be difficult to blame President Obama for increased immigration since so many deportations have happened under his administrations. Now that immigration is at net zero from Mexico, it will be difficult to make the usual illegal immigrant apologist mantra stick.
During the past decade GOP elections have been built on illegal immigration. We saw this happen right here in Prince William County. the rhetoric was often hateful and demeaning and those of Hispanic background were often called “Mexicans” regardless of their country of origin. Some in the City of Manassas are still blasting away on this tired old theme. In particular, one school board member is wearing out the “illegals” cost us money theme, ignoring all the federal laws in place about discrimination. Psssst! CS, this is not the winning ticket.
At any rate, statistics will alter the methods if people have an open mind. Those others will cling to their old ways and continue screaming about “illegals” and “Mexicans” with their last breath. Their efforts are pointless. We need to redirect our efforts into turning our assets, the children of immigrants, into productive Americans. Its time to pass a Dream Act that encourages our good students rather than keeping them in the shadaws. This act should include all immigrant kids who had no choice in coming here but once they got in our schools, made the most of the American dream.
The Dream Act is simply common sense immersed in humanity. Seems to me we have a plethora of stories involving motivated bright young people caught in a limbo of inertia, bogged down by worn out ideolog with no real solution to a real problem. If young people, brought here as children, are determined to make a life for themselves and live the American dream, we should be smart enough as a country to make that happen.
The Prez has done an outstanding job of securing our borders. Now’s the time to pass CIR.
Democrats plan to force vote on Arizona immigration law if it’s upheld by court
By Rosalind S. Helderman, Tuesday, April 24, 2:01 AM
The Washington Post
Senate Democrats are making plans to force a floor vote on legislation that would invalidate Arizona’s controversial immigration statute if the Supreme Court upholds the law this summer.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) will announce the fallback legislation at a hearing on the Arizona law Tuesday, a day before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a suit to determine whether Arizona had the authority to enact the 2010 state crackdown
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-plan-bill-to-undo-arizona-immigration-law-if-it-is-upheld-by-court/2012/04/23/gIQAJ4V7cT_story.html
Brilliant!
Well, no, he’s destroyed the economy. The means is quite different, but the ends happens to be the same.
@Elena
Yeah, we should throw all logic straight out the window and govern solely by emotion! Don’t like a law? Just ignore it! Personal responsibility? Nah, not in this country! We don’t want our kids to learn something crazy like actions have consequences!
He destroyed the economy? Twilight zone music heard in the background.
How in God’s name anyone could read this and say “Hurray for Obama” is beyond me. I said on this blog about a year ago that I give Obama credit for decreased immigration, but I’m not sure I understand his methods. “Let’s ruin this nation to the point where even the people without education, immunizations and toothbrushes agree “this place is busted!”
The hard-left often hears the Twilight Zone music when faced with facts. Jesus, it says right in the article that there are no employment opportunities left in the US.
That would be me….hard left over here.
How long do you think the deep recession/depression should take to fully recover?
Howevaaaaaaa….there are two sides and the improvements made in Mexico are not to be ignored. Mexico is developing a vibrant middle class which is a good thing.
Regardless, it ought to give anti immgration folks a lot less to bitch about these days.
Hmmmmm…no wonder the gardener, and the maids haven’t shown up in the last several days! (Just kidding, my maids are from Sweden, hmmm hmmm hmmm!)
Sorry, just woke up, now what was the subject?
Taking the day off, SA?
Where have I heard that before? Oh, that’s right, we’ve been saying for years “fix your own country instead of trashing ours”. You can count on conservatives to always give you the answers that work. It’s nice to hear that things are getting better in Mexico. Say, that reminds me, wanna link to a site where you can see thousands of pictures of mangled and chopped up bodies from the Mexican drug violence?
I love the Chuckles Schumer story. His turd of a bill wont even pass the dem-controlled Senate! If sweeping away laws for Latinos meant anything to Democrats, they would have taken care of it when they controlled the Executive and the Legislative branch.
Afraid not Moon, someone has to pay for those maids (if only I had one)! At least my lawn mower is paid for.
My lawn mower is on vacation at someone else’s house. Part of the lawn is about a foot high after the rain. It and its operator need to come home soon.
Big story today! Romney says “no” to Rubio’s DREAM. If Romney’s not careful, I’m going to end up liking him! And hey, if the Senate Dems want to waste a little time to prove a point, that’s cool. Now let’s see if the R’s are smart enough to force Obama to veto the pipeline. I’ll take my pipline over your illegals five days a week!
Ahem/….pokie, you are an educated man. “Illegal” is an adjective.
That NO to the Dream Act is just another case of meanness. It fits right in with not caring about poor people and keeping your dog on the roof.
Awwww, we’re mean. We’re big meanies!!! Meany Meanerson!! Take a good look, folks, that’s as close to an honest argument you’ll ever see!!
“Keeping your dog on the roof?” Well at least he doesn’t eat the dog!
@Pokey, are you sure? Can you say positively?
Yes, it is mean to take good students (not thugs and rowdies) and put a brick on their heads. There is no reason to keep those students from going to college. Yes, it is mean-spirited to shut off all communication and make these students continue to live in the shadows. An uneducated society does no one any good. These kids have done their part. We need to do ours.
That won’t sit well with a large swath of voters. Who knows, in a close election, every vote counts.
I really saw this story on every paper, every newscast, you name it today. I’m comfortable how everything is panning out so far. Actually, Moon is on to something with the growing Mexican economy. It’s hard to see stuck here in our Obama economy, but elsewhere in the world, real growth is happening. In countries you wouldn’t normally expect to hear about it, too. The “leveling out” effect is kind of interesting to see.
Must express my entire satisfaction with the proceedings in the Supreme Ct. today. The polls show the 60% of the people support the AZ law, and here’s hoping the Supremes uphold the state’s right to defend its own citizens. Another stellar performance by US Solicitor General!! “Uh, er, uh, huh?”
Is that a difference between liberals and conservatives? Do liberals have a separate meeting the day they go over adjectival nouns in school? May we not refer to:
The rich
The poor
The young
The old
The just
The righteous
???
@pokie
Not to nit pick but if you follow that guide you would have to say The Illegal, not “illegals.” “illegals” just sounds “necky.”
Yes, it would be “the illegal”. Illegals is lazy (colloquial?)
And that was painful for me to admit, I hope you realize. @pokie
“Yes, it is mean to take good students (not thugs and rowdies) and put a brick on their heads. There is no reason to keep those students from going to college. Yes, it is mean-spirited to shut off all communication and make these students continue to live in the shadows. An uneducated society does no one any good. These kids have done their part. We need to do ours.”
Is it not also mean to stop the thugs and rowdies from attending college?
To balance the equation should we not let poor disadvantaged students go to Harvard and let those rich advantaged students goto local JCs and vocational schools? Force them to work in liquor stores and 7-11s?
If a college degree is the barrier to good schools and a good job, lets remove the barrier. Either make all jobs not dependent on an education OR tell all colleges that they have to accept anyone regardless of merit or ability to pay…
I have no issue with the word, illegals.
@marin, no, thugs don’t have the grades to get into college. They don’t study because they are out being thugs.
Your question makes no sense. We all know who is college material and who isn’t. College degrees usually provide skills that are needed to perform the job, not just a piece of paper.
Some poor disadvantaged kids do go to Harvard. I expect they have GPA’s of 4 point a million also.
The very people who don’t want to allow kids out of status into colleges, even though they were brought here as children, are the same people who whine and bitch about gangs and other non-desirable behavior. The best way to make sure kids stay out of gangs is to let them see they have a future.
“@marin, no, thugs don’t have the grades to get into college. They don’t study because they are out being thugs. ”
You are mean to those thugs.. Holding them back because of “grades” or “merit”.. Why not just pass them even though they can’t read or write. How else are they going to become Federal Judges in California?
“Your question makes no sense. We all know who is college material and who isn’t. College degrees usually provide skills that are needed to perform the job, not just a piece of paper.”
The point is that – as Slow pointed out – if this is a question of us being “mean” by wanting to enforce current laws and that we are somehow oppressing and suppressing otherwise qualified people then why not extend out that point to unqualified people? Why is it ok to be “mean” to them? Why doesn’t everyone get a degree without having to do anything…..!
“Some poor disadvantaged kids do go to Harvard. I expect they have GPA’s of 4 point a million also.”
Harvard as a private college can accept anyone they want and can charge them as little or as much as they wanted. If Harvard were concerned that not enough hispanics of questionable legal, moral and ethical status were getting IVY degrees nothing is stopping them from admitting them. They have the endowment to do so.
“The best way to make sure kids stay out of gangs is to let them see they have a future.”
Using this logic the best way to get rid of gangs is to simply provide them with a future. FREE HARVARD LAW DEGREES FOR EVERYONE!!!
Let them all eat cake.
You and Slowpoke don’t want discussion at all. You just want to argue and make assinine statements.
What does that solve? It doesn’t matter to people who take the attitude ” I got mines” so screw everyone else.
doh, fix the law so they can go to school. It was fixed so they can’t. Now let’t fix it back so they can if they qualify.
Marin, maybe you should have had to scrape a little harder so you can apprciate what some kids have to go through. Imagine going to school and maintaining a straight A average. Then imagine taking advance placement courses, going on to graduate and being told no to going to college because you aren’t in the country legally.
The Harvard argument is a red herring. Laws need to change so that deserving students are not kept from attending college. Operative word, deserving.
No law stops anyone from going to a private school. If I am in error, please cite your source.
You brought up ‘mean-ness’. I showed how asinine your line of thinking was.
I’m sure the worst part of this is that those returning Mexicans are giving up their dream of US citizenship. NOT! Like I always said, if the economy in Mexico improves they’ll be beating feet back there as fast as possible. All this talk of wanting to be citizens, and waiving the little American flags was just so much BS to gain sympathy, so they could stay long enough to earn more money.
God, SA. You don’t even try to hide it, do you?
I don’t ever remember through all the immigration talks, of citizenship being the ultimate goal. I always heard “better life” as the goal. That is pretty much universal if you check out immigrant history.
As for waving American flags….like most immigrants from all over the world, one foot is in the new home, one foot is in the old home. Did you happen to see all the little flags being waved by Latinos right after 9/11? I saw hundreds.
Oh dear god…
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/04/26/eeoc-issues-updated-guidance-on-employee-background-checks/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058?test=latestnews
If they didn’t come here to join the club and become one of us, then they can pay their own way until they do. Pay for their own housing, schooling, and food. People who aren’t here to become citizens are just part time foreign workers even if they are here legally, so I don’t expect any taxpayer money to provide them any support, and if there presence causes trouble for the rest of us then they must leave without any sympathy from us.
Let me get this straight…even though people are here for decades, pay taxes, social security, medicare and everything else a citizen pays, you don’t think they should get anything back? I don’t think the laws work like you think. About the only thing a citizen can do that a legal resident can’t do is vote.
So what advantage did America gain from all these exiting illegals other than cheap labor for small businesses? So they up and vacate housing they never intended to stay in, and go back to the country they truly want to live in leaving us holding the bag. We should learn from this experience, and ensure it doesn’t happen again. Political correctness be damned!
Second Alamo, no one here will EVER accuse you of political correctness.
There really is no pleasing you, is there. In the first place, only about a fourth of all Latino immigrants in our area were Mexican. Why do you assume they “up and left?” I would think you would want that.
Just to reassure you…they didn’t all leave.
Don’t get me wrong Moon, I’m very pleased that this illegal influx may reduce to a manageable level. Those truly wanting to become productive US citizens can come through the proper channels, and now perhaps our efforts can be to reward those that do instead of spending time and resources kicking out those that don’t. Hopefully this may have an impact on the growing gang problem also. Less taxpayer money spent on keeping them in prison, and then transporting them back across the border. A good day all around.