The Week has some surprising facts and figures on illegal immigrants in the U.S. Just for fun, I’ll state it in the form of a quiz:
- About how many illegal immigrants are there, and what percentage of the U.S. population is that?
- What percentage of illegal immigrants here now have been here for more than 10 years?
- Is the number of illegal immigrants increasing or decreasing?
- What percentage of illegal immigrants are Mexican?
- Obviously, “illegal immigrant” means they crossed the border illegally, right?
- What percentage work? What percentage pay taxes? What percentage are receiving public assistance?
- What percentage have committed criminal offenses?
Answers (and I’ll repeat the questions, because it would be annoying if I didn’t):
- About how many illegal immigrants are there [Answer: 11 million], and what percentage of the U.S. population is that [Answer: 3.5%]?
- What percentage of illegal immigrants here now have been here for more than 10 years? [Answer: 66%]
- Is the number of illegal immigrants increasing or decreasing? [Answer: decreasing, from a peak of about 12 million in 2007. ]
- What percentage of illegal immigrants are Mexican? [Answer: 50%]
- Obviously, “illegal immigrant” means they crossed the border illegally, right? [Wrong: about 60% did, but 40% entered legally and overstayed their visas]
- What percentage work? [Answer: 73%] What percentage pay taxes? [Answer: 50%] What percentage are receiving public assistance? [Answer: 0% of adults, although children who are not citizens may receive public schooling and emergency medical care]
- What percentage have committed criminal offenses? [Answer: 7.5%]