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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

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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

Obama drops rule aimed at immigrants' bosses

In the News - Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Obama administration has repealed a rule that would have threatened employers with prosecution unless they fired workers whose Social Security numbers did not match entries in a government database, ending a two-year battle in a San Francisco federal court.

Although the Department of Homeland Security formally withdrew the "no-match" rule Wednesday, the administration is supporting another program enabling employers to check workers' names against electronic records that are supposed to screen out illegal immigrants.

By Bob Egelko -- San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/08/BAON1A3110.DTL&tsp=1

Recession Hits Immigrants Hard

In the News - Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The number of foreign-born residents of the U.S. declined for the first time since at least 1970, as a recession and tight labor market dented America's image as the land of opportunity.

A decline in construction jobs lured fewer immigrants from their home countries, especially those from Mexico, according to the Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey.

By Conor Dougherty and Miriam Jordan -- The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125356996157829123.html

Napolitano: Groundwork being laid for immigration bill

In the News - Thursday, September 17, 2009

Napolitano did not promise that such reform would happen at all, but pointed out that President Barack Obama has said immigration reform will be one of his top priorities when the debate over health care reform concludes.

The New Mexico-born Homeland Security Secretary said it would include a proposal similar to the DREAM Act , which would grant certain undocumented immigrants–such as those who arrived in the United States as children and graduate from high school–the opportunity to earn permanent residency.

By Heath Haussamen -- New Mexico Independent

http://newmexicoindependent.com/36588/napolitano-groundwork-being-laid-for-immigration-bill

Our Water Supply, Down the Drain

In the News - Sunday, August 23, 2009

Droughts make matters worse, but the real problem isn't shrinking water levels. It's population growth. Since California's last major drought ended in 1992, the state's population has surged by a staggering 7 million people. Some 100,000 people move to the Atlanta area every year. Over the next four decades, the country will add 120 million people, the equivalent of one person every 11 seconds.

More people will put a huge strain on our water resources, but another problem comes in something that sounds relatively benign: renewable energy, at least in some forms, such as biofuels. Refining one gallon of ethanol requires four gallons of water. This turns out to be a drop in the bucket compared with how much water it takes to grow enough corn to refine one gallon of ethanol: as much as 2,500 gallons.

By Robert Glennon -- Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101773_pf.html

Jury Rules for Hospital That Deported Patient

In the News - Tuesday, July 28, 2009

In a benchmark case dealing with the obligations of hospitals toward uninsured illegal immigrants, a jury in Stuart, Fla., decided Monday that Martin Memorial Medical Center did not act unreasonably when it chartered a plane and repatriated a severely brain-injured Guatemalan patient against the will of his guardian.

Judge James W. Midelis instructed the jury in state court late last week that because of a Florida appeals court decision, it was already “a matter of law” that the patient, Luis Alberto Jiménez, had been unlawfully detained and deprived of his liberty.

Still, the jury found that Martin Memorial had not committed false imprisonment and was not liable for damages.

By Deborah Sontag -- New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/us/28deport.html?_r=1

Illegal Immigrants May Pay Full Tuition Price

In the News - Saturday, July 25, 2009

Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, said he has won a battle against illegal immigrants within the state regarding in-state tuition benefits with an opinion rendered Thursday night by the state attorney general's office.

Berman said despite his struggles to push immigration legislation during the recently convened legislative session, an opinion he filed more than a year ago will begin addressing benefits reserved for citizens.

By Adam Russell -- Tyler (Texas) Morning Telegraph

http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090725/NEWS08/907250314

Thousands Of H-1B Visas Still Up For Grabs

In the News - Tuesday, July 14, 2009

It's been nearly four months since the U.S. began accepting from employers H-1B visa petitions for IT and other professionals for temporary jobs starting in fiscal 2010, which begins Oct. 1. The weak economy continues to dampen demand of the visa most popular among employers seeking IT workers.

Since the U.S. began accepting fiscal 2010 visa petitions on April 1, the U.S. has hit about two-thirds of the annual cap on general H-1B visas. At last count, as of July 10, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had received 44,900 H-1B visa petitions toward the congressionally mandated annual cap of 65,000.

By Marianne Kolbasuk McGee -- InformationWeek

http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/federal/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218500442

Bailing Out Illegals

In the News - Monday, July 13, 2009

Illegal aliens constitute about 7% of the state's population, or about 2.7 million, according to an April report by the Pew Hispanic Center. State officials say that they add about $4 billion to $6 billion in costs, primarily in the area of schools, prisons and jails, and emergency rooms. This is money the slightly less Golden State can scarcely afford.

For fiscal 2009-10, it's estimated that about $834 million will be spent to incarcerate 189,000 illegal immigrants in the state's prison system. In Los Angeles County alone, Supervisor Mike Antonovich says, illegal aliens add up to $550 million annually in criminal justice costs.

Investors.com

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=481960

Parched State Searches for Ways to Expand Water Supply

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

When California's budget impasse is settled, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to deal with the state's other big crisis: fresh water.

Gov. Schwarzenegger and other top lawmakers have already drafted plans to attack a severe water shortage in the state, which has suffered a three-year drought.

As soon as the stalemate over how to bridge California's $26.3 billion budget gap is resolved, the governor and legislative leaders plan to introduce a package of water-related measures calling for more water conservation and an estimated $10 billion bond measure to finance more fresh water storage.

By Jim Carlton -- Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124710094111315647.html

Illegal immigrants again in the budget spotlight

In the News - Friday, July 10, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said it is wrong to blame illegal immigrants for the state's fiscal problems. He has, however, proposed to limit welfare and nonemergency healthcare for illegal immigrants and their families. So far, the Legislature has rejected his plans.

One of the governor's proposals would place a five-year limit on state welfare payments to the U.S.-citizen children of illegal immigrants. That would affect approximately 100,000 U.S.-born children in about 48,000 California households headed by illegal immigrants, who receive a monthly average of $472. The measure could save $77 million annually, according to the governor's office.

By Anna Gorman and Teresa Watanabe -- Los Angeles Times

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said it is wrong to blame illegal immigrants for the state's fiscal problems. He has, however, proposed to limit welfare and nonemergency healthcare for illegal immigrants and their families. So far, the Legislature has rejected his plans.

One of the governor's proposals would place a five-year limit on state welfare payments to the U.S.-citizen children of illegal immigrants. That would affect approximately 100,000 U.S.-born children in about 48,000 California households headed by illegal immigrants, who receive a monthly average of $472. The measure could save $77 million annually, according to the governor's office.

Under another proposal, the governor could commute the sentences of some illegal immigrant felons in state prisons and shift them to federal detention centers. It costs the state $48,000 to incarcerate a prisoner, and the federal government reimburses about 12 cents on the dollar, according to state finance officials. The administration estimates that commuting sentences of 8,500 felons, along with other sentencing changes, could save $182 million, although other state analysts question that.

By Anna Gorman and Teresa Watanabe -- Los Angeles Times

Show More http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-illegal10-2009jul10,0,3398621.story

Polls

Half of Americans Believe Immigration Should be Reduced

Prefer Lower Numbers - Friday, August 7, 2009

A Gallup poll released on August 5, 2009 shows that 50% of all Americans believe that immigration should be reduced.  This number is 11 points higher than the figure from an identical poll conducted last year.  Only 14% of Americans say immigration should be increased (down from 18%) and 32% say immigration levels should remain the same (down from 39%).

5 August 2009, Gallup

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122057/Americans-Return-Tougher-Immigration-Stance.aspx

Most Arizona Voters Put Immigration Over Health Care as More Important Reform Goal

Prefer Lower Numbers Oppose Amnesty Support Tougher Enforcement Oppose Rewards for Illegal Migration - Monday, July 27, 2009

Fifty-one percent of Arizona voters say it is more important for Congress to pass immigration reform than health care reform.

By a 65% to 20% margin, Arizona voters believe enforcing the borders is more important than legalizing the status of those already living here. Half of the state’s voters (50%) think it is possible to put an end to illegal immigration, while 34% do not.

Rasmussen Reports, 27 July 2009

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/arizona/most_arizona_voters_put_immigration_over_health_care_as_more_important_reform_goal

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

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

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