In 1980, the U.S. government began estimating the number of unauthorized immigrants, or "illegals," living in the U.S. In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Immigration Statistics estimated that there would be 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States by January 2006. This number increased from an estimated 8.5 million in January 2000.
It is estimated that 3.1 million of the 11 million illegal immigrants came to the United States in 2000 or later. Six million of the illegal immigrants are from Mexico, and another 1.4 million are from El Salvador, Guatemala, India, and China combined.
The State of California has the most number of illegal immigrants with 2.8 million followed by Texas with 1.4 million, then Florida with 850,000. North Carolina was ranked 9th with 360,000. Mecklenburg County, NC is estimated to have an illegal immigrant population of 58,000.
Despite this situation of increasing number of illegal immigrants, only 208,521 were deported and nearly one million voluntarily left in 2005. Further, only 1.1 million people became legal permanent residents or green card holders in 2005. The top three countries of citizens obtaining legal permanent status in the United States were from Mexico (14%), India (8%), and China (6%). North Carolina had 16,715 legal permanent residents granted in 2005 and the state followed the national trend where the top three originating countries for legal permanent status were Mexico, India, and China.
Given these numbers, many Americans have asked the question, "Why don't these people just get legal?" Under existing federal immigration law, many people simply cannot "get legal." People who have overstayed a visa, entered the U.S. without a valid visa, or have previously been deported are barred from obtaining a legal visa. For individuals who entered this country illegally (without permission), the U.S. immigration process must be completed at the country of origin, by appearing for a final interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. When the illegal immigrant leaves the United States to attend the final interview in their home country, they are barred by current immigration law from returning for either three years, ten years, or permanently.
Under current law, the choice available to the illegal immigrant population, many of whom have a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse and children, is either to uproot their family and return to the home country where economic conditions, personal safety, and health services are vastly inferior to this country, or to remain here and continue to work and live with their family. Faced with this prospect, many illegal immigrants never leave the United States. Those making the choice to stay are far outstripping the number of illegal immigrants who are deported from the United States each year.
Thus, the study and debate begins.
