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NumbersUSA.com's goal of reducing annual legal and illegal immigration to more traditional numerical levels enjoys broad based public support. Virtually every major poll that has been conducted in the past decade finds that a majority of Americans support lower immigration numbers.

Amnesty

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Birthright Citizenship

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Chain Migration

Heritage pride parade
Chain migration is the primary mechanism that has caused legal immigration in this country to quadruple from about 250,000 per year in the 1950s and 1960s to more than one million a year since 1990.

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Farmland

Area of farmland lost to sprawl
The rural area lost to development between 1982 and 1997 is about equal to the entire land mass of Maine and New Hampshire combined.

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Illegal Immigration

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Refugees

The United States signed the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and our obligation to provide sanctuary for defined refugees.

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U.S. Population

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Urban Sprawl

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America's Jobless

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Black Americans

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Environment

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High-tech workers

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National Sovereignty

The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, bound the United States, Canada, and Mexico into a trilateral "free trade" relationship among the three nations of the North American continent. Trade enthusiasts hailed NAFTA as holding

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Taxpayer Burden

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Unions

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Visa Lottery

visa lottery registration
The visa lottery program was established in 1990 and awards approximately 50,000 permanent resident visas to foreign nationals by conducting a random lottery.

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In the News

New roadblock for immigration?

In the News - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Most illegal immigrants come to this country from Mexico looking for jobs. Regardless of how much the government beefs up border security — which, certainly, must be done — if there is no functioning temporary worker program, illegal immigrants still will have strong incentive to sneak over the border.

Denver Post Editorial

http://www.denverpost.com/editorials/ci_12709515

Democrats play word games on immigration

In the News - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

On June 24, Sen. Charles Schumer gave a remarkable speech on immigration. Preparing the way for the Obama administration's expected push for comprehensive reform, Schumer seemed to adopt a newer, tougher-sounding tone as he promised that a bill would be passed during "this Congress."

"People who enter the United States without our permission are illegal aliens, and illegal aliens should not be treated the same as people who entered the United States legally," Schumer said.

By Byron York -- Washington Examiner

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-play-word-games-on-immigration-7900449-49456097.html

Sen. Nelson rallies against student's deportation

In the News - Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sen. Bill Nelson has called for authorities to halt the deportation of a Miami man whose immigration story has inspired protests and riled up immigration activists throughout South Florida.

In a letter last week addressed to a top federal immigration official, Nelson praised Walter Lara, a 23-year-old who is to be deported July 6. He called him ''exactly the type of person'' a new immigration bill is ''trying to help.'' Lara's story ''vividly illustrates'' the need for Congress to pass the DREAM Act, Nelson, a Democrat, said.

The bill would grant certain immigrants who graduate from U.S. high schools conditional permanent residency.

By Brittany Levine -- The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1118685.html

Washington public schools hire some foreign teachers by using H-1B visas

In the News - Sunday, June 28, 2009

While use of the visa in the private sector at companies like Microsoft is well-known and hotly debated, less is known about school districts' use of the program. In fact, at least 40 Washington school districts have applied for H-1B visas to employ teachers and staff over the past five years.

By Christine Willmsen and Lornet Turnbull -- The Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009393348_h1b28m.html

A Way Forward on Immigration

In the News - Saturday, June 27, 2009

President Obama and Congress members met privately at the White House on Thursday for their first major discussion of immigration reform. Immigration is just one unsolved national crisis among many, and it was hard not to suspect that the parties might use the meeting — which had already been twice postponed — to dampen expectations for a bill this year.

The meeting was more encouraging than that. It led to a persuasive show of unity among Republicans and Democrats. Both sides made the case for getting a comprehensive reform bill written and passed this year, or early next. Mr. Obama announced that the homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, would lead a working group of both parties and houses of Congress to do that.

New York Times Editorial

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/opinion/27sat1.html

Pelosi to Defer to Senate on Immigration Reform

In the News - Thursday, June 25, 2009

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), following the same strategy of the last Congress, said Thursday that the House will wait for the Senate to act first on comprehensive immigration reform.

“We have been ready for a long time,” Pelosi said. “We’re ready anytime.”

But in saying she’s “ready,” Pelosi made clear she is waiting for the Senate to take the lead. That’s the same position the Speaker took in the last Congress, deferring to the Senate to take the first crack at the highly controversial subject.

By Steven T. Dennis -- Roll Call

http://www.rollcall.com/news/36287-1.html?type=printer_friendly

Senate Democrats Address Immigration

In the News - Thursday, June 25, 2009

Senate Democrats outlined plans yesterday to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, including a requirement that all U.S. workers verify their identity through fingerprints or an eye scan.

Speaking on the eve of a White House summit with congressional leaders on immigration, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said a national system to verify work documents is necessary because Congress has failed to crack down on unscrupulous employers and illegal immigrants with fake documents.

By Spencer S. Hsu - Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062402244_pf.html

Obama Set for First Step on Immigration Reform

In the News - Thursday, June 25, 2009

President Obama is expected to meet with Congressional leaders of both parties on Thursday to begin laying the political groundwork for sweeping immigration legislation, even though its passage this year is considered very unlikely.

With lawmakers already immersed in health care, financial regulation and energy policy, and with the Senate set to hold hearings soon on Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court, administration officials and many in Congress say it is improbable that they will be able to add anything as challenging as an immigration overhaul.

By Ginger Thompson and David M. Herszenhorn -- New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/us/politics/25immig.html?_r=1&hp

Unemployment at highest level in 25 years

In the News - Saturday, June 20, 2009

The turmoil ravaging General Motors and Chrysler generated big jumps in joblessness last month throughout the Midwest, sending Michigan's unemployment rate above 14 percent and pushing three nearby states into double digits.

Jobless rates in Illinois and Indiana surpassed 10 percent, while Ohio's approached 11 percent, according to data released Friday in a Labor Department report.

By David M. Dickson -- Washington Times

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/20/unemployment-rate-hits-highest-level-in-25-years/?feat=home_headlines

Immigration reform to get a quiet kickoff

In the News - Saturday, June 20, 2009

Reporting from Washington — Lawmakers will gather at the White House next week for a working session on immigration reform, a meeting that has been highly anticipated by Latino leaders eager for President Obama to honor his campaign promise to put millions of undocumented workers on a "pathway to citizenship." But many Democrats are now concluding that they may well not have the muscle to pass such a controversial measure -- at least not immediately, and possibly not until after the 2010 midterm election.

By Peter Wallsten -- Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-immigration20-2009jun20,0,3979385.story

Polls

Poll Reveals Progressives Support Lower Immigration Numbers

Prefer Lower Numbers Oppose Amnesty - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Leah Durant, the Executive Director of Progressives for Immigration Reform, will appear on Lou Dobbs on CNN on Tuesday night to explain new poll numbers showing that liberals are concerned about rising population numbers due to increased immigration. The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC in April.

The poll revealed:
  • Sixty seven percent of liberals and progressives felt the level of population growth caused by immigration negatively impacts the quality of life in the United States.
  • Fifty eight percent felt that the current levels of immigration are harmful to the environment.
  • Sixty three percent said that current levels of immigration hurts job prospects for American workers.

Progressives for Immigration Reform

Leah Durant, the Executive Director of Progressives for Immigration Reform, will appear on Lou Dobbs on CNN on Tuesday night to explain new poll numbers showing that liberals are concerned about rising population numbers due to increased immigration. The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC in April.

The poll revealed:

  • Sixty seven percent of liberals and progressives felt the level of population growth caused by immigration negatively impacts the quality of life in the United States.
  • Fifty eight percent felt that the current levels of immigration are harmful to the environment.
  • Sixty three percent said that current levels of immigration hurts job prospects for American workers.
  • With regard to undocumented workers already here, the poll revealed that self-identified liberals are split over whether illegal immigrants should be offered an amnesty. Fifty three percent were in support of a pathway to citizenship and forty five percent were opposed.

Progressives for Immigration Reform

Show More http://www.progressivesforimmigrationreform.org/2009/06/23/survey-of-600-progressives-and-liberals/

Rasmussen Poll Shows 66% of Likely Voters Believe it is Important to Reduce Illegal Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration Opinion Elites vs. Public - Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A new Rasmussen poll shows that 66% of likely voters believe that the government should improve border enforcement and reduce illegal immigration.  However, only 32% of America's "Political Class" agree.

The poll also shows that 77% of likely voters believe that illegal aliens should not be able to receive driver's licenses and 73% of Americans believe that police officers should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when that person is pulled over for a traffic violation. 

Rasmussen Reports, 14 April 2009

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/on_immigration_large_gap_remains_between_mainstream_america_and_political_class

Gannett Poll Finds NJ Residents Oppose Rewards for Illegal Aliens

Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration - Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Sixty-two percent of state residents oppose granting illegal immigrants some type of limited driver's license, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll.

Only 32 percent said children of illegal immigrants deserved in-state tuition rates, while 20 percent favored the lower rates for illegal immigrants themselves.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090324/NEWS01/903240343/1006/

73% Support Police Checking Immigration Status During Traffic Violations

Support Tougher Enforcement - Thursday, March 19, 2009

Seventy-three percent (73%) of U.S. voters believe that a police officer should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when the officer pulls that person over for a traffic violation. Only 21% disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of voters also say that if law enforcement officers know of places where immigrants gather to find work, they should sometimes conduct surprise raids to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Twenty-four percent (24%) oppose surprise raids.

Rasmussen Reports

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/73_say_cops_should_check_immigration_status_during_traffic_stops

Immigration Ranks 10th in Priorities

Support Tougher Enforcement - Monday, January 19, 2009

In a Washington Post/ABC Poll released just before Barack Obama's inaguration, respondents ranked immigration No. 10 on a list of priorities for the administration. The economy, Iraq War, foreign policy and education were all ranked ahead of immigration. Twenty-one percent said that it was the highest priority, 48 percent said it was high priority, while 29 percent said it was low priority.

Washington Post/ABC Poll - January 19

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/postpoll_011709.html

Transatlantic Trends: Immigration

Protect Jobs and Wages Support Tougher Enforcement - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

When asked about what governments should do to address illegal immigration, 83% of respondents supported stronger border controls, 74% supported cracking down on employers, and 68% supported deportation.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States, 2008

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No Post-election Mandate for Amnesty

Oppose Amnesty - Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Only 32% of Obama voters considered his support for amnesty as a factor in their decisions to vote for him. 67% said it was either not a factor at all, or they voted for Obama in spite of his stance on amnesty.

60% of voters said reducing illegal immigration and cracking down on employers who hire them is important to them, while only 21% supported "legalizing or creating a pathway to citizenship" for illegal aliens.

57% of voters stated that amnesty would harm American workers and further strain public resources, while only 26% believe amnesty would aid economic recovery and ease public burdens.

http://www.fairus.org/site/DocServer/zogby_2008_tabresults.pdf.pdf?docID=2262

Rasmussen Poll reveals Americans Angry over Immigration

Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement - Friday, November 7, 2008

Twenty-six of respondents are angry over immigration policy in the United States.

Sixty-two percent say gaining control of the borders is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/immigration/26_angry_about_immigration_the_issue_candidates_ignore

George Mason University Survey of Virginia Residents (Blacks sampled)

Black Americans on Immigration - Friday, June 27, 2008

Results from the George Mason University Survey of Virginia Residents released on June 8, 2007:

Results from the George Mason University Survey of Virginia Residents released on June 8, 2007:

  • Sixty-eight percent of black Virginians oppose the creation of government-sponsored hiring centers for day laborers, which may include illegal aliens.
  • Almost eighty-one percent of black Virginians
    favor requiring local police to check the immigration status of people
    they encounter during routine activities, such as traffic violations.
  • Almost fifty-percent of black Virginians
    approve of groups of people known as Minutemen who look for illegal
    aliens along the Mexican border and in communities in order to report
    them to authorities.
  • Sixty-six percent of black Virginians agree that illegal immigration takes jobs away from American workers.
  • Seventy percenty of black Virginians agree that illegal alien workers in the labor market tend to lower the wages and salaries of American workers.
  • Sixty percent of black Virginians agree that illegal immigration hurts American customs and way of life.
  • Almost seventy-three percent of black Virginians agree that illegal immigration increases the dangers of terrorism.

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April, 2006 Field Poll (Blacks sampled)

Black Americans on Immigration - Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Results from the California Field Poll released on April 11, 2006:
  • 66% would support building a wall along major sections of the border between the U.S. and Mexico to stop illegal immigrants from entering the U.S.
  • 59% would impose stiff penalties on employers and individuals who hire illegal immigrants.
  • 54% would require undocumented workers who have lived in the U.S. for more than two years, but less than five years, to briefly leave the country and report to an American port of entry where they would be classified as temporary workers.
  • Only 28% would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license in California.
  • 56% considered immigration a major issue in that year's (2006) upcoming gubernatorial elections. 

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Stats

Remittances

Stats - Thursday, March 19, 2009

$26 billion to Mexico in 2007. (Joel Millman, Remittances to Mexico Fell More Than Forecast, Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2009, p. A3).

55% of Mexican immigrants to the United States are illegal. (Steven A. Camarota, Immigrants in the United States, 2007: A Profile of America’s Foreign Born Population, Center for Immigration Studies, November, 2007. Available at: http://www.cis.org/immigrants_profile_2007).

55% of $26 billion is $14.3 billion.

$26 billion to Mexico in 2007. (Joel Millman, Remittances to Mexico Fell More Than Forecast, Wall Street Journal, January 28, 2009, p. A3).

55% of Mexican immigrants to the United States are illegal. (Steven A. Camarota, Immigrants in the United States, 2007: A Profile of America’s Foreign Born Population, Center for Immigration Studies, November, 2007. Available at: http://www.cis.org/immigrants_profile_2007).

55% of $26 billion is $14.3 billion.

57% of the illegal population comes from Mexico. (Steven A. Camarota, Immigrants in the United States, 2007: A Profile of America’s Foreign Born Population, Center for Immigration Studies, November, 2007. Available at: http://www.cis.org/immigrants_profile_2007).

If we assume that all illegal immigrants send money home at the same rate as Mexican illegal immigrants, then the question we must ask is, if 57% of the illegal population sends home $14.3 billion, what is the total amount of money that the illegal population sends home?

.57(x) = 14.3 x = 14.3/.57 = $25.08 billion

 

 

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Total U.S. Joblessness - November 2008

Joblessness Numbers - Thursday, December 18, 2008

6.5% -- 9,158,000
 Currently Looking (unemployed looking for a job)
12.2% -- 18,864,128 U-6 Total Unemployed -See Description Below

42,134,000

 

Not In Labor Market (ages 18-64)*

60,998,128 TOTAL JOBLESS ADULTS

Current as of December 18, 2008
6.5% -- 9,158,000
 Currently Looking (unemployed looking for a job)
12.2% -- 18,864,128 U-6 Total Unemployed -See Description Below

42,134,000

 

Not In Labor Market (ages 18-64)*

60,998,128 TOTAL JOBLESS ADULTS

*Includes those unemployed and not looking for work.

The average (employed) American works 33.7 hours per week. The U.S. government considers full time employment to be at least 35 hours per week. This data was gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U-6 unemployment includes Americans who are unemployed (and looking for a job), Americans who are marginally attached (persons who currently are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past), and Americans who are employed part-time for economic reasons (who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule).

View the latest unemployment numbers.

Current as of December 18, 2008

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African-American Joblessness - November 2008

Joblessness Numbers - Thursday, December 18, 2008

12.6% -- 995,000

Unemployed Men

25.3% -- 2,678,000

Men Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

3,673,000 TOTAL JOBLESS BLACK MEN

11.9% -- 855,000

Unemployed Women

33.9% -- 3,686,000

Women Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

4,541,000 TOTAL JOBLESS BLACK WOMEN

Current as of December 18, 2008

12.6% -- 995,000

Unemployed Men

25.3% -- 2,678,000

Men Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

3,673,000 TOTAL JOBLESS BLACK MEN

11.9% -- 855,000

Unemployed Women

33.9% -- 3,686,000

Women Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

4,541,000 TOTAL JOBLESS BLACK WOMEN

*Includes those unemployed and not looking for work.

The average (employed) American works 33.7 hours per week. The U.S. government considers full time employment to be at least 35 hours per week. This data was gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

View the latest unemployment numbers.

Current as of December 18, 2008

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Hispanic Joblessness - November 2008

Joblessness Numbers - Thursday, December 18, 2008

8.0% -- 1,046,000 Unemployed Men

12.3% -- 1,833,000

 

Men Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

2,879,000 TOTAL JOBLESS HISPANIC MEN

7.8% -- 659,000 Unemployed Women (sought job in last year)

37.2% -- 5,014,000

 

Women Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

5,673,000 TOTAL JOBLESS HISPANIC WOMEN

Current as of December 18, 2008
8.0% -- 1,046,000 Unemployed Men

12.3% -- 1,833,000

 

Men Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

2,879,000 TOTAL JOBLESS HISPANIC MEN

7.8% -- 659,000 Unemployed Women (sought job in last year)

37.2% -- 5,014,000

 

Women Not In Labor Market (adults age 18-64)*

5,673,000 TOTAL JOBLESS HISPANIC WOMEN

*Includes those unemployed and not looking for work.

The average (employed) American works 33.7 hours per week. The U.S. government considers full time employment to be at least 35 hours per week.  This data was gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

View the latest unemployment numbers.

Current as of December 18, 2008

Show More