US ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
About 11.5m illegal immigrants in the US
Four out of 10 have been in US five years or less
75% were born in Latin America
Most enter via southern US border
California, Texas and Florida host most illegal immigrants
Many work in agriculture, transport and construction

Gus Shihab, a US immigration lawyer, told the BBC that migrant workers were not taking jobs from US citizens:

"The undocumented aliens do not compete with the US workforce because they occupy an entirely different segment of the

work labour force," he said.

"If these people leave you will have a very difficult time finding willing US workers who are wanting to take these

positions."

The protest comes with the US Congress caught up in the divisive business of reforming immigration laws.

Right-wingers believe too much emphasis has been placed on plans for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship and not enough on

enforcing current laws.

A bipartisan bill currently stalled in the Senate would bolster border security, but also provide illegal immigrants a path

toward citizenship and a guest-worker programme long favoured by President George W Bush.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4961734.stm

Published: 2006/05/01 17:43:09 GMT

© BBC MMVI
An estimated 11.5 - 12 million foreign nationals are living illegally in the US, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.


These are mainly people who have entered the US without the necessary documents or who have overstayed temporary visas.
More than three quarters of illegal immigrants in the US were born in Latin America, with a large proportion of these coming

from Mexico.

More than three quarters of illegal immigrants in the US were born in Latin America, with a large proportion of these coming

from Mexico.

Most enter the US by slipping across the 2,000-mile (3,200 km) southern border - in 2005 more than a million people were

arrested trying.

Although the typical illegal immigrant is often perceived as young, male and travelling alone, unauthorised migrants range

from whole families, including children, to lone women.
Most enter the US by slipping across the 2,000-mile (3,200 km) southern border - in 2005 more than a million people were

arrested trying.

Although the typical illegal immigrant is often perceived as young, male and travelling alone, unauthorised migrants range

from whole families, including children, to lone women.
The pace of unauthorised arrivals has accelerated over the last two decades. On average, nearly five times as many illegal

immigrants enter the country each year now as did in the 1980s. About 40% of illegal immigrants have been in the US five

years or less.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4963348.stm

Published: 2006/05/01 18:08:16 GMT