Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Rhode Island's "unauthorized population" of immigrants without documents has essentially remained static between 2005 and 2008, says the author of a new analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center.

The 2008 estimated population of undocumented immigrants is 5,000 lower than in 2005 -- or 30,000 compared to 35,000. But the 2008 range of 20,000-35,000 is too wide to pinpoint a decline, said Jeffrey S. Passel, the Pew Hispanic Center's senior demographer. "I would say the ranges overlap. Basically, it hasn't changed enough for us to be able to measure it," he said.

The research group also found that undocumented immigrants make up 2.8 percent of Rhode Island's total population and 3.6 percent of its workforce.

Key findings in the report, released Tuesday, indicate that the undocumented immigrant population has stabilized across the country after growing rapidly from 1990 to 2006. The rapid growth of unauthorized immigrant workers has also halted.

The non-partisan research center used a "multi-staged estimation process" that includes primary data from monthly surveys conducted jointly by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 Tags  report Rhode Island

Comments

Dan said:

That's good news, but 30,000 too many especially in the state our economy is in. Let's not let our guard down and continue to press for E-Verify for more than just state jobs. Let's give the legal immigrants and Rhode Islanders the assistance they need.

Link | April 14, 2009 1:27 PM
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Petar said:

I love that term, "unauthorized population" instead of "illegal immigrant". Kind of like calling a drug deal an "unlicensed pharmacist".

Link | April 14, 2009 4:39 PM
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JerryRI said:

Unauthorized???? Is that the politically correct term for illegal?

Link | April 14, 2009 4:39 PM
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