Illegal Immigration in 2009 Declines due to Recession

Illegal Immigration Declines in 2009 due to Recession

by elianaphelps on Feb.11, 2010, under Law and Policy
2009 Estimate of Unauthorized Immigrant Population in USA

This report provides estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population residing in the United States as of January 2009 for periods of entry and leading countries of birth and states of residence.

Immigration Statistics Summary

DHS estimates that the unauthorized immigrant population living in the United States decreased to 10.8 million in January 2009 from 11.6 million in January 2008.

Between 2000 and 2009, the unauthorized population grew by 27 percent. Of all unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2009, 63 percent entered before 2000, and 62 percent were from Mexico.

Overall Trend

Between January 2008 and January 2009, the number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States decreased seven percent from 11.6 million to 10.8 million (see Figure 1). Between 2000 and 2007, the unauthorized population grew by 3.3 million from 8.5 million to 11.8 million. The number of unauthorized residents Declined by 1.0 million between 2007 and 2009, coincident with the U.S. economic downturn. The overall average annual increase in the unauthorized population during the 2000-2009 period was 250,000.