International migration boosts Georgia’s population growth

Much of Georgia’s 3 percent population growth over the last three years was driven by international migration, according to U.S. Census estimates released Thursday.

Between April 1 of 2010 and July 1 of 2013, the state’s population grew by 304,504 to 9.9 million. Of those people, 72,269 came from other countries. The census report doesn’t identify their origin or legal status.

In 2011, Georgia enacted a stringent law to crack down on illegal immigration. Last year, Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation to expand that crackdown.