Enforcement Efforts and the Economy Impacting Illegal Immigration

A new report from the Kansas City Star covers the impact increased enforcement efforts and the recession have had on illegal immigration. According to the story, not only are illegal aliens heading home, but they’re deciding to stay home in light of tighter enforcement.

“When you start taking away the work force by cracking down on illegal immigration, it scares the bejesus out of employers,” former immigration official Mark Reed told the Kansas City Star. “Their mentality changes.”

While the sluggish economy has played a role in reducing illegal immigration, the Pew Hispanic Center reports that the trend actually started in 2006 well before the recession began. According to a recent DHS report, the number of illegal aliens declined by about 1 million in 2007, which was before the job losses really started to mount and during the same time the Bush Administration stepped up worksite enforcement.

Pres. Obama has shifted focus away from illegal workers and onto the employers that hire them. His administration has increased audits, resulting in fines for 63 employers in 2010 for $1.9 million compared to no employers fined in 2006.

“The goal is to build a case against the employer. We feel that’s the most effective use of our resources to reduce the magnet or pull of illegal employment,” a deputy assistant director for ICE, James Spero, said.

For more information, see the Kansas City Star.