Immigration Law

NEW EVIDENCE IMMIGRANTS LEAVING COUNTRY

By Greg Siskind

I've reported on various studies showing the number of illegally present immigrants is dropping. And I've reported on the various explanations from pro and anti immigration groups. But there has been less reporting on legally present workers who may be leaving. Anti-immigrant groups argue that enforcement is working and the raids on work sites and tighter border security are having the intended effect. Pro-immigration groups argue that the tough economy with growing unemployment is the reason for the drop. I've opined that it is probably a combination of the two.

And now there is a very interesting new piece of evidence supporting the argument that the economy is, in fact, affecting immigration to the country. Nicaraguans, El Salvadorans and Guatemalans have been eligible for Temporary Protected Status in the US for ten years since Hurricane Mitch hit Central America, killing thousands. TPS holders from those countries have been able to work with USCIS-issued employment authorization documents that have been extended on an annual basis.

Tuesday was the deadline for TPS extension applications for the Hurricane Mitch population, estimated at around 300,000. According to USCIS, only 54% of those eligible to extend had filed the applications as of last Friday. So unless there was a fairly massive surge over the last few days, a huge percent of TPS applicants have decided to head home or have already left.

This data is very significant because the TPS population has been legally residing in the US and working legally and they have no fear of worksite raids or border security. The only logical explanation for their failing to extend their status is the economy. This does not mean that enforcement is not a factor in the decline in the illegally present immigrant population. But it likely means that the economy is, indeed, a key factor.

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on January 01, 2009 (boomark / email).