The numbers of immigrants living illegally in Georgia and across the nation have changed only slightly in recent years as the U.S. has boosted border security, struggled with high unemployment and watched as economic conditions have improved in Mexico, according to a new federal report.
In January 2012, there were 11.4 million immigrants living illegally in the U.S., down less than 1 percent — or 80,000 — from the year before, Homeland Security Department estimates show.
Released Friday, the new estimates were based on subtracting government figures for immigrants living with legal status in the U.S. from census counts for all foreign-born residents.
Georgia was home to 400,000 immigrants without legal status in January of 2012, the report says. That is down 40,000 from 2011. Georgia ranks seventh among states in that count. California ranks first at 2.8 million followed by Texas, 1.8 million; Florida, 730,000; New York, 580,000; Illinois, 540,000; and New Jersey, 430,000.
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