News and Politics | July 31, 2008 | 79 comments

1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080731/ts_csm/adepart

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stone246
Some 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the summer of 2007. If the trend continues, according to a new study, the nation's illegal population will drop by half in the next five yearsMoreover, reports the Center for Immigration Studies, young Hispanic immigrants began heading south before the nation's economy did – a clue that what's driving the new outmigration is a stepped-up border and workplace enforcement, not a souring US job market.

The source of the report – a think tank with a record of opposing illegal and even some legal immigration – is controversial in immigrant communities. But its findings could help frame the debate in a new Congress and a new administration.

The key conclusion is that enforcement, not the economy, is driving the decision to self-deport.

"The dropoff in illegal immigration seems to occur before there is a runup in their unemployment rate," says Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies.

But Mr. Camarota also cites evidence of a link to the discussion in Congress about a path to legalization for undocumented workers. "From May to April [2007] there is an actual uptick in the number of illegals in the country, which falls off after the legislation fails. It seems as if the discussion of legalization had some effect on the decision to come or go or both," he says.

Critics caution that little is known about a shadow workforce estimated at anywhere from 11 million to 20 million. "The problem is it's difficult to know what's causing a change like this," says Tamar Jacoby, president of ImmigrationWorks USA, an organization of employers nationwide lobbying for comprehensive immigration reform. "But the one thing we know for sure is that the country is in a deep economic downturn, if not a recession, which means there's much less need for workers, especially those providing services for the middle class
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79 comments // 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States

  • MethuselahMouse
    • 0
      MethuselahMouse  

    • As far a human element goes, why do we so violently begrudge them their livelihood.

      I doubt they seek jobs in the United States out of luxury. They are obviously fleeing an economic crisis they hold no power over.

      Fight or Flight.

      It is an issue. Laws versus incredible desperation and the will to survive.

      When we can find the nerve to severely punish companies for advertising job positions across national borders, then I suppose we can begin to deal with desperate people of little political savvy.

    • 4 years ago
  • SarahAna
  • Kylsport
    • 0
      Kylsport  

    • That's unfortunate....not! The are going where they should have been in the first place, LEGALLY. Unfotunate for Obama/Clinton who were planning on making them citizens, so that they could count on their vote....so much pandering. That is coming from someone who's grandparents emigrated here from Mexico, LEGALLY in the 1940s.

    • 4 years ago
  • SarahAna
  • Chuck_st_chuck
  • seary6579
    • 0
      seary6579  

    • PROPAGANDA BUSTER

      (these figures from the Center for Immigration Studies)

      -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.

      -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.

    • 4 years ago
  • k8_hj
  • echoz
    • 0
      echoz  
    • k8_hj:

      you know it's virtually true....and thankfully, i can finally see 2nd page comments now...I wonder if it was just 'carnivore' peeping in for good measure =P

    • 4 years ago
  • echoz
  • echoz
    • 0
      echoz  

    • tsk...did you know that 'queer' is generally considered equated with 'homosexual'? Why the peculiar redundancy? In the same style then, why don't you just say "Mexicans? Wetbacks? Illegals?" like you really had a point. pfff...

      wtf..I MADE my phukn point, that being if the bottom line in business is truly profits, McDonald's marketers might very well be phukt pursuing less profitable markets in lieu of more lucrative ones (i.e. marketing to this immigrant group), and that possibly being more politically motivated than beholden to the shareholders demanding those very profits, which is potentially a travesty and betrayal of trust. I further implied that shareholders may very well generally be more appreciative of the honesty--even if it's politically inexpedient for you or others like you to be as honest. I mean, in the same spirit, isn't that REALLY why we have a war going on isn't it? PROFITS. Further, imho, this particular group is more deserving of recognition largely being hard workers in shit jobs and could use some "humanity" as others have alluded. Anything wrong with that? The truth is corporations could influence a rather positive perception that might provide some of that humanity. I mean, if they're doing it for homo's (which was once illegal in all states), why not so-called illegal immigrants?

      and pardon me...wtf was your point? pfff... don't bother.

    • 4 years ago
  • omordn
  • echoz
  • Sue82
    • 0
      Sue82  

    • Even if some illegals have left the country, as many as 10-11 million are still here. Many of them live pay check by check, do not have health insurance, are exploited by their employers, risks their lives by working in jobs such as roofing, or put they health in jeopardy by working under the sun for long hours, do not have a pension plan, pay taxes to the government that OTHER people will enjoy. On the top of all this, they are considered less than a human being by many. YES, they are a type of slave.... because all they can do is work but other than that they basically have NO RIGHTS!

      I hope there will be a HUMAN, FAIR legal reform to help all these people who are supporting the US economy.

    • 4 years ago
  • omordn
  • dchild000
    • 0
      dchild000  

    • things won't change until their countries become more developed where there won't be such a need to find somewhere else to work and live for a better life. That they can have it in their own native country. They may leave but that doesn't solve the problem, b/c more will just come illegally. Reform is the word, and development...

    • 4 years ago
  • Angel4truth
    • 0
      Angel4truth  

    • Maybe it will inspire people to apply for visa's?
      And maybe the cheaper work force supplied by illegals will become legit?

      Yeah, I'm dreaming again.

    • 4 years ago
  • Sue82
    • 0
      Sue82  
    • Angel4truth:

      OMG, reading comments I realize one more time how UNIFORMED AND ignorant about immigration laws people are.
      I would recommend to anyone who really cares about the US:
      1. PLEASE read immigration laws, get to know how to difficult is to get a visa, to keep yourself legal, to become a permanent resident (not by marrying a US citizen).
      2. READ social research about all the struggles these people have to endure, the type of back breaking job they do, the minimum wage they are paid, they racism and exploitation they suffer, and then you can submit an informed educated opinion.
      3. Just go a visit illegal immigrants families to see how normal, how many dreams and how many obstacles they have.
      4. Read how many bright students (whose parents brought them illegally) CANNOT got to college because they lack social security to apply for financial aid.
      5. Go ask the IRS where are the MILLIONS of dollars that are unclaimed by the illegal immigrants, where all these money go?????????? or ask what happens to the money that an illegal immigrant pay in taxes BUT cannot receive when retire????????????

      then submit your opinion!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 4 years ago
  • RudyRudell
    • 0
      RudyRudell  

    • "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..."

      America has always stood on the backs of its immigrants, this is bad news.

    • 4 years ago
  • ihateyou
  • Ayahuasca2012
  • mrburns
  • stone246
    • 0
      stone246  

    • to add onto what elegalalien08 said. check these out facts out done by the U.S. government.
      1. 40% of us PHD scientist are immigrants.
      2. legal and illegal immigrants make up 15% of the us labor force.
      3. 40% of immigrants are more likely to start a business than the native Americans.

      4. 18-40 men are less likely to be incarcerated than the native born Americans.
      5 immigrants contribute 80000 dollars more in taxes than they receive in government aid. just found this stats fascinating.

      http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/cea_immigration_062007.pdf

    • 4 years ago
  • seary6579
  • dchild000
    • 0
      dchild000  
    • stone246:

      i think the line is blured and trying to label illegal and legal to make it more black and white is pointless. This is not an easy situation, you need to hear their stories, you need to see the reality. This is not a cut dry black and white situation, its a gray area and will be until the problem is solved at the source. Development of countries other than the USA. So deal with the blurriness, its gonna be a while so get used it!

    • 4 years ago
  • JohnA
  • mposs
  • ctrl_alt_del
    • 0
      ctrl_alt_del  

    • Dude, isnt illegal immigration basicaly like a form of modern slavery? We just used these poor people and give them no health insurance, 401 K, or anything that usually comes with a job. And we think we're better than China, what a joke.

    • 4 years ago
  • dchild000
  • elegalalien8
    • 0
      elegalalien8  

    • 10 facts about immigrants (legal and illegal for that matter)

      1. They pay taxes
      2. They come to work and reunite with family members
      3. Their businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue
      4. They create jobs for U.S. and foreign workers
      5. They fill jobs in key sectors, start their own businesses, and contribute to the economy
      6. Within ten years of arrival, more than 75% speak English
      7. Today's immigrants are not that different than those of 100 years ago
      8. Most immigrants come to the U.S. legally
      9. Despite more strongly enforced U.S. border security, the number of undocumented immigrants has not decreased
      10. The war on terrorism cannot be won through immigration restrictions

    • 4 years ago
  • seary6579
    • 0
      seary6579  
    • elegalalien8:

      "10 facts about immigrants (legal and illegal for that matter)"

      1. They pay taxes

      -On occasion, maybe. But how in the world can you expect me to believe that an illegal immigrant getting picked up out front of a hardware store by someone putting in a new deck and getting paid in a handful of under-the-table cash at the end of the day filing his W-2s?

      2. They come to work and reunite with family members

      -So? What interest does that serve for the people of the United States?

      3. Their businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue

      Maybe. I'm not up on these numbers, so the skeptic in me thirsts for a reliable source.

      4. They create jobs for U.S. and foreign workers

      -Legal immigrants are a hell of a lot more productive in this scene.

      5. They fill jobs in key sectors, start their own businesses, and contribute to the economy

      -See my reply to #4

      6. Within ten years of arrival, more than 75% speak English

      -Hard pill to swallow. Having been forced to work with (often times a majority of) Illegal immigrants on past occasions, my experiences suggest otherwise. Language barriers in the workplace honestly resulted in reduced efficiency, morale, and most importantly safety in plenty of instances.

      7. Today's immigrants are not that different than those of 100 years ago

      You are comparing apples and oranges... (illegals and LEGALS)

      8. Most immigrants come to the U.S. legally

      -Wonderful. ALL immigrants should come to the U.S. legally.

      9. Despite more strongly enforced U.S. border security, the number of undocumented immigrants has not decreased

      -Of course not. Fence lines and armed border guards are obviously ineffective. This might be our strongest point on which we agree. Removing the incentive to break federal law and invade the US would seem a more logical approach (abolishing birthright citizenship, social/econ programs available to illegals, etc). That, and we should increase the incentives to obtaining LEGAL citizenship.

      10. The war on terrorism cannot be won through immigration restrictions

      -The "war of terrorism" does not have anything to do with this issue.

    • 4 years ago
  • JohnA
  • voldypoo
    • 0
      voldypoo  

    • 1.3 million gone, 11-20 millon to go? I don't understand every thing about immigration or emmigration for that matter. But in my mind a few questions arrise.

      What are the effects of essentially dissplacing, or returning, 11-20 million people in to their countries of origin?
      Would the economy worsen or recouperate because of their absence?
      How will the famillies (children, partners, spouses etc.) created by these people cope: will they remain in the US and look for a legal way to pursue their happiness? will they opt to emmigrate along with their loved ones?
      Will their experiences in the US ( a different form of government, a different social enviroment, a different economical structure, adifferent civil structure) effect the way they mold their contries of origin?
      And in turn, how will their absence effect the US?

    • 4 years ago
  • SonicSubculture
    • 0
      SonicSubculture  

    • There's a legal way of becoming a citizen... it's worked until a few politicians decided to let it slack... there's no excuse for any other way, though. Try again.

    • 4 years ago
  • Dut
    • 0
      Dut  

    • good! we need to send a message to the employers and fine those who hire illegal aliens... look at arizona

    • 4 years ago
  • NickerBocker09
    • 0
      NickerBocker09  

    • I dont think people realize the full extent of immigration. This country, and the world, is over populating. Yes this country needs workers, but when millions of people come here, guess what they need. They need food, water, electricty, etc... and they get it from the US and so then we need more people working.

      Its not as if they come here work and its all good, by allowing tons of people in the country we increase the amount of people we need to maintain the industries, so its basically an endless cycle.

      Im fine with saying that this country needs to control illegal immigration more and let less people into this country. However I also think we need to help improve the countries these people are coming from, afterall the only usual way to fix a problem is by going at its source.

    • 4 years ago
  • dchild000
    • 0
      dchild000  
    • NickerBocker09:

      FINALLY~! someone who has realized that just shipping people back home won't solve the problem! These people come from underdeveloped countries looking for a better life, if they could get that better life they'd be happy right where they were I'd bet and we'd have a very small immigration problem if any to worry about in comparison to the massive one we have now.

      Solve the problem at its source, be more global, instead of just being the arrogant self-centered Americans the rest of the world sees us as. People need to realize that we are not America and the world as we'd like to think. We are apart of the world, we need to be apart of the world. Help these countries develop themselves properly so they can provide better lives for their citizens and so we don't have to worry about taking care of them. Then more of them would probably come here legally if they choose.

    • 4 years ago
  • butch3651
  • Swiyyah
  • Elligirl
    • 0
      Elligirl  

    • Very interesting. Maybe with the economy turning sour, the below-minimum-wage pay that illegals usually get dropped too low for the travel and risk to be worth it.

    • 4 years ago
  • mrburns
  • clayjj05
  • diode
    • 0
      diode  

    • not fast enough in my opinion. do it legally and i could care less where you are from. do it illegally and if i could I'd personally deport the lot of em

    • 4 years ago
  • clayjj05
  • JohnA
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • Bookshepherd
    • 0
      Bookshepherd  

    • The hard data behind this story is inconclusive - I'd like to see some reporting done on the personal stories that surround these statistics and what impact moving back to their country of origin has had on the immigrants and their families.

    • 4 years ago
  • NickerBocker09
  • Bookshepherd
    • 0
      Bookshepherd  
    • Bookshepherd:

      The reasons behind self-deporting from a nation you previously broke the law to reside in probably isn't based on anything "simple"...

      These people have been seen as "only statistics" long enough - perhaps some humanizing detail would help us move beyond the frequently oversimplified and jingoistic rhetoric that can dominate the immigration conversation in America too much of the time.

    • 4 years ago
  • carlos_b
    • 0
      carlos_b  

    • This new form of protest is a good way for the undocumented immigrants to show how much an influence and impact they have in the US economy.

    • 4 years ago
  • omordn
    • 0
      omordn  

    • If you contribute to our American society, I welcome you whether you are legal or not. But if you live here and you don't do anything that will help not only yourself and your family, but our country... you don't belong here. Pay your taxes, get an education, be civil, etc. That is what America stands for, right?

    • 4 years ago
  • allIknowis
  • egarlow
  • dchild000
  • bss05g
    • 0
      bss05g  

    • People are too quick to forget that in one way or another everyone in this country is an immigrant, if those people who left were good hard working people then it is a shame for them to have gone, America now more than ever can use as many people putting their best foot forward as possible.

    • 4 years ago
  • jeromecon
  • omordn
    • 0
      omordn  
    • bss05g:

      Hey Jeromecon,

      So what would you say about your so called ancestors who were "legal," how would you describe the way they mistreated the Native Indians who were here BEFORE your so called "legal" ancestors?

      Why don't you run and cross that border.

    • 4 years ago
  • Allsunday
    • 0
      Allsunday  
    • bss05g:

      Omordn - There's so much wrong with comparing illegal immigration with the hostile invasion and takeover of Native American tribal lands that I don't even know where to begin and I can't believe you went there.

    • 4 years ago
  • jeromecon
    • 0
      jeromecon  
    • bss05g:

      My ancestors came from Canada and France they were legalized on the boats in the gulf of Mexico . They paid to come in here and they gave all identification to get legalized. They settled peacefully with native Americans , by the way my great grandmother was a full blooded native American{chitimacha}
      Dont assume that everybodys ancestors mistreated native Americans b/c that becomes the same bigotry that your fighting against.

    • 4 years ago
  • omordn
    • 0
      omordn  
    • bss05g:

      To Jerome and AllSunday,

      My apologies. Perhaps I handled this situation by speaking of harsh history that we have in our country. But you also have to understand that when there is a story posted ANYWHERE that reads "immigrants" you will always get those comments that summarize into "get out of this country because the law says so."

      Yes, I said some harsh things but only to return the favor. We would all like to think that it is okay to come to this country legally but let us all be realistic... this country is still filled with racism. You also have to ask yourself, "how long does it take for someone to be accepted and arrive to this country legally?" Has anyone ever thought of that? Also, ask yourself, those who come here illegally, why are they here? I'm not speaking for those who come here only to commit crimes but about those who come here to give their family the OPPORTUNITY that their home country cannot give them. I have witnessed these individuals who have literally NOTHING to feed their family with. I've heard stories about their children or relatives trying to cross the border only never hearing from them again.

      But to the point, although my comment may have come out strong for some of you to disagree with, I find it to be legit and realistic. There are many immigrants today, especially Latinos, who are murdered because of their color and civil status. Then, we have these anti-immigration and pro-"american" individuals making harsh comments about people they cannot relate with saying "it's the law" when back in our ancestor days it was the "law" to not murder someone and take over their land.

      This is the land of opportunity for those who are willing to work hard for it and contribute to our society.

    • 4 years ago
  • jeromecon
    • 0
      jeromecon  
    • bss05g:

      omrdn , you dont have to apologize b/c i do believe that all illegal aliens need to do it right somehow , im not saying go home but atleast go to classes and pay the same money as LEGAL immigrants do.

    • 4 years ago
  • omordn
    • 0
      omordn  
    • bss05g:

      Jerome,

      If our system didn't intimidate them, they would come out and would be willing to pay their taxes and get an education. Many of them are afraid that government officials will find out they are not citizens.

      Let's face it... our government has not addressed this issue properly and until we stop having that gap with this issue.. we will not solve anything. These hard working people do want to contribute but because of fear they cannot.

    • 4 years ago
  • jeromecon
    • 0
      jeromecon  
    • bss05g:

      omrdn , i do respect your opinion. my opinion is if the government enforced the immigration laws that are already have on the books , the immigrants would have to come in legally.

    • 4 years ago
  • malathion
  • Pattyhax
    • 0
      Pattyhax  

    • Allowing legal immigrants to work here is unfair to the immigrants that went through the strenuous process of coming here legally. We may be a country of immigrants but most of our forefathers did it legally. We cannot bend the rules simply because the illegal immigrants who unjustly crossed the boarder have assimilated to our society.

    • 4 years ago
  • jeromecon
  • seary6579
  • damnneargenius
    • 0
      damnneargenius  

    • Yeah, it's all fun and games sharing jobs with our non-English speaking neighbors to the south until you need those jobs to survive.

      Any system that isn't keeping accurate track of the people and the numbers is certainly in need of improvement.

    • 4 years ago
  • joshuaheller
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • There's still more.

      Hope the economy (even though that's not the only reason) worsens and they go back and then when the economy evens out there is ample proof that this false idea that they are needed to do the "menial" work is blown up as a HUGE FAT LIE.

      No one's job is worthless and every single job (except for a few) are needed to keep society working. Said jobs were being done by American Citizens prior to the influx of those who are not citizens and will be again.

      People like using those who are not citizens because they are cheaper and then what? They treat them like crap. Well that's not fair. Not fair to people who are citizens and not fair to the person who should be.

      I think that people deserve more money for what they do, not less and paying less to those that deserve more is just as much stealing as an illegal (the other phrase is too long) who get tax free money---free hospital visits, housing, clothing.....

    • 4 years ago
  • maxamust
    • 0
      maxamust  
    • J_Jammer:

      What's a free market if everyone can't compete? It's funny that people blame immigrants for taking their jobs. Yes, people in other countries are taking american jobs, but its because jobs are being outsourced. We are a nation of immigrants, what gives you the right to be here and not them? Make them legal so they have to pay taxes. Are you scared that you can't compete with these people?

    • 4 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • allIknowis
    • 0
      allIknowis  
    • J_Jammer:

      I work in the restaurant industry, long known for employing immigrants both legal and illegal. It is SOOOO hard to find honest, reliable, hard working legal employees, I've NEVER heard of an illegal being paid minimum wage, much less under min wage. I personally know of dishwashers being paid $10 to $12 and hour, and the chef's glad to have them. This is in the midwest where the cost of living is low.
      Granted they get alot of the s*it work, but that's what goes with dishwashing. I've also known of many of them who work their way up to kitchen manager, based on hard work and the ability to speak at least a little English. I've seen many American born people bitch about being started at $9/hr and not showing up a second day.
      Granted Illegal is illegal, but it shouldn't take 2 to 4 years to get a work permit.

    • 4 years ago
  • Greg_Bunker
  • J_Jammer
  • mposs
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • J_Jammer:

      There are some people that just cannot be rehabilitated. There are those people that think they can and then those people release the ones that cannot and what happens? They kill again. Who is to blame? The people that thought they were well.

      There are always signs of unwell and they just wanted to think that it was possible to "cure" them even though they slaughtered one too many prior to being locked up.

      If those people were killed the world wouldn't care nor lose a precious life.

      However, there are people that kill because they were pushed to do so via abuse or other means and they only killed once and they didn't torture the person they killed. Plus their killing was done in the heat of passion..they don't deserve to die for their killing because it was like a one time thing. Keeping them locked up until such and such a time is feasible.

      But I believe that no one really has the right to put to death someone else....but the law is the law and if that's how the state is ran then that's how it is ran.

    • 4 years ago
  • sgirgis72
  • seary6579
  • Kylsport
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