Thought Theater

Immigrant Population Grows In 49 States genre: Econ-Recon & Polispeak & Six Degrees of Speculation

In another sign that Democrats may be positioned to make gains in November, the Census Bureau released new data that immigrant population now tops 35 million and has expanded in 49 states. Nearly 17 million of those immigrants are Hispanic. Immigrants now comprise over 12 percent of the U.S. population. Read the full Reuters article on the immigrant numbers here and the full Associated Press article on the 49 state expansion of immigrant populations here.

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of immigrants living in the United States has risen to more than 35 million, or 12.4 percent of the population from 11.1 percent five years ago, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday.

California had the most people born outside of the United States at 27.2 percent of its population.

Some of the findings were surprising...especially the areas identified with the largest immigrant population increases. The findings provide a picture of just how widespread immigration has become and the draw that employment opportunities provide regardless of location.

From The Associated Press:

“This is just an extraordinary explosion of diversity all across the United States," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. “It’s diversity and immigration going hand in hand."

Frey said states that attract large numbers of immigrants can consider it a “badge of economic success." There have, however, been backlashes.

“In some places it will be awhile before they are accepted by the locals," Frey said. “All we have to do is look at this immigration debate."

South Carolina’s immigrant population grew by 47 percent since 2000, more than any other state. Hispanics grew by 48 percent in Arkansas, the most of any state.

Michael MacFarlane, South Carolina’s state demographer, said immigrants and Hispanics were attracted by a healthy economy that offered jobs requiring few skills.

The rapid growth likely explains some of the heightened interest that immigration has attracted leading into the November midterm elections. It will be interesting to see how the issue plays in the 2006 midterm election as both the DNC and the RNC attempt to lure immigrant voter support while still addressing the border issue. Some within the GOP have concluded that a strong position on illegal immigration may be a better position for the Party than courting minority voters.

The dynamic nature of the issue along with differing regional reactions makes the topic complex and controversial. The recent congressional race in the San Diego area (CA-50) seemed to indicate that a strong position on halting illegal immigration worked to the advantage of the GOP candidate. Nonetheless, it may not signal that the same approach will be beneficial in all locations. What is certain is that immigration will remain a topic of interest and a growing political factor for years to come.