New Data from U.S. Census Bureau Shows a Dramatic Decline in the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering the U.S.
UPI reported today that immigration to the U.S. slowed down dramatically in 2007. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 511,000 foreign nationals entered the United States during 2007. Indeed this is a dramatic reduction from the 1.8 million reported in 2006. Further, an average of 1 million foreign nationals have been entering the U.S. every year since 2000. Commentators on this information have blamed the decline on the U.S. economic downturn and the government’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Some interesting facts coming out of the 2007 census:
● From 2006 to 2007, the foreign-born population fell in 14 states, including New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont and South Dakota.
● Atlanta, Las Vegas and Oakland, California were named among major cities who also experience a decline.
● The number of immigrants in the U.S. is now 38.1 million, the highest in U.S. history.
● About 12 million people, or 31 percent of all foreign-born, were born in Mexico.
● California (27.4 percent), New York (21.8), New Jersey (19.9), Nevada (19.4) and Florida (18.9) had the highest percentage of foreign-born.
● Of the 20 largest metropolitan statistical areas, Miami and Los Angeles had the highest percentage of foreign-born (37.0 percent and 34.9 percent, respectively). St. Louis had the lowest (4.0 percent).
● Foreign born immigrants in the U.S. made up 12.6 percent of the population in 2007.
● Some cities made moderate gains: Phoenix, Boston and Denver.
If prolonged, the decline in foreign nationals entering the U.S. will have a negative economic impact in Southern Florida. Miami, for example, is already experiencing a negative economic impact due to the decline in the number of foreign visitors.
