1.3 million illegal immigrants fled U.S.

A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) states that there was a significant decline in the illegal immigrant population over the past few months. At a news conference held by the Center today, Steven Camarota, the director of Research at CIS, said rates of legal immigration continued to rise unchanged, while the illegal immigrant population decline by 11 percent, or 1.3 million people.

Camarota gave two causes for this significant decline. First, he said increased illegal immigration enforcement deterred new people from entering, and caused some leave on their own. He pointed to how only the illegal immigrant population was affected, while the legal population was unaffected to explain the effectiveness of enforcement. Secondly, the poor state of the economy in the U.S. caused the population to decline as well. He said the statistically significant decline in illegal immigrant population means new enforcement measures are working well.

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said the 11 percent decline is very significant, but warned against a possible increase in immigration when four laws against illegal immigration expire soon. Congressman Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) said the new report speaks highly of efforts in the past few years to “stand up” for the “rule of law” and reduce illegal immigration.