facts and figures on illegal immigrants

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:

  1. About how many illegal immigrants are there, and what percentage of the U.S. population is that?
  2. What percentage of illegal immigrants here now have been here for more than 10 years?
  3. Is the number of illegal immigrants increasing or decreasing?
  4. What percentage of illegal immigrants are Mexican?
  5. Obviously, “illegal immigrant” means they crossed the border illegally, right?
  6. What percentage work? What percentage pay taxes? What percentage are receiving public assistance?
  7. What percentage have committed criminal offenses?

Answers (and I’ll repeat the questions, because it would be annoying if I didn’t):

  1. About how many illegal immigrants are there [Answer: 11 million], and what percentage of the U.S. population is that [Answer: 3.5%]?
  2. What percentage of illegal immigrants here now have been here for more than 10 years? [Answer: 66%]
  3. Is the number of illegal immigrants increasing or decreasing? [Answer: decreasing, from a peak of about 12 million in 2007. ]
  4. What percentage of illegal immigrants are Mexican? [Answer: 50%]
  5. Obviously, “illegal immigrant” means they crossed the border illegally, right? [Wrong: about 60% did, but 40% entered legally and overstayed their visas]
  6. 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]
  7. What percentage have committed criminal offenses? [Answer: 7.5%]

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