USC Study Says 1 in 10 are Illegal Immigrants in U.S.

Researchers at the University of Southern California say that one in 10 adults in this country is an undocumented immigrant who either crossed the border illegally or illegally stayed beyond the time limits of a visa. Further statistics show that about half of those immigrants have remained in the U.S. for a least a decade with 12 per cent of them becoming U.S. homeowners. Additionally, many of these people are now the parents of children born in this country, which makes these offspring U.S. citizens. The study revealed that in Los Angeles, one in five children has an illegal immigrant parent. Overall, the researchers concluded that the undocumented are more of a settled group than otherwise.

In California, 2.6 million residents are illegal immigrants, composing seven percent of the population. 63 percent of them are from Mexico, 22 percent from Central America, and eight percent from the Philippines, Korea, and China. The study found that the average income for illegal immigrants in Los Angeles County was $18,000 a year. A barrier to better jobs and income for these people is their inability to speak English well enough. Even after legalization, where these immigrants fail to learn English, their prospects for employment remain limited. Close to half of them lack a high school diploma, another barrier. Those who favor immigration reform assert that a better path towards legalization will result in better training, jobs, income, and the potential of college for their children. Those who oppose this legalization assert that trillions of dollars in government benefits will be spent on such immigrants which will further drain state and federal coffers.

Houston Immigration Lawyer Serving Texas and the Nation

Immigration reform is currently being discussed in Congress and the laws will likely change and continue to be updated in the years to come. Those involved in immigration issues, therefore, should consult with an attorney who focuses on this legal field and who stays current with the law and procedures as they evolve. The Law Offices of Tony E. Parada, located in Houston, provides legal assistance and representation with all types of immigration matters, including green cards, asylum, adjustment of status, naturalization, citizenship, all types of visas, deportation defense, and more.

Mr. Parada has represented hundreds of individuals in deportation hearings and has helped hundreds more gain citizenship and permanent resident status. He also has extensive experience in handling appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals. His firm offers legal services in both English and Spanish. Contact the firm to speak to Mr. Parada about your immigration case to get knowledgeable advice and to learn what needs to be done to resolve it as smoothly as possible.