Back in 1972, the rate of legal immigration into the U.S. was around 400,000, as was illegal immigration.  Legal immigration now amounts to 1.2 million, which pales next to the rate of illegal immigration at 2.5 – 3.0 million per year. 

Despite the Clean Water Act, many of America’s rivers are suffering, with no relief in sight, as our population continues to soar to unprecedented levels.  The Census Bureau projects America’s population will grow by another 75 million in the next 40 years, with roughly 90% of that caused by immigration.  It’s significant that this projection was made before the immigration surge at the southern border, where illegal immigration has become more than twice as high as legal.

Our North Carolina report continues the secondary-migration theme of our Idaho study. Americans are leaving states with high immigration-driven population growth.

In a state where 95% of the land is privately owned, the trade-off between unchecked population growth and open space preservation in Texas is clear.

Americans have grown increasingly efficient with our use of resources (i.e., our per capita ecological footprint). But we haven’t grown more sustainable  -- that is, the U.S. ecological deficit (gap between footprint and biocapacity) has increased -- because the amount of natural resources (i.e., our biocapacity) per person has also declined. Why? In part because we have converted them into urbanized areas to accommodate immigration-driven population growth.

Candidates who emphasize habitat and wildlife conservation have an edge in these Western states. But to fulfill campaign promises, conservation candidates will have to address immigration policy.

The most direct and fundamental way to resolve America’s decline in biodiversity is to gradually bring down our high levels of immigration. Habitat loss cannot be stopped as long as immigration (legal and illegal) continues to add roughly three and a half million people every year.

Idaho is the fastest growing state by rate. Gem State residents don’t want more unchecked growth, according to new polling data.

The consequences of our expanding population encroaching on America's farm and ranch strongholds were on the minds of many attendees at the 2024 American Farm Bureau Convention.