Mexican-US illegal migration has been largely static since the 1950s

[Judi Lynn]

Mexican-US illegal migration has been largely static since the 1950s
By Cory Doctorow at 7:09 pm Wednesday, Aug 8

Princeton's alumni magazine has an excellent profile of Douglas Massey, Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs and director of Princeton’s Office of Population Research. Massey studies patterns of US migration, particularly illegal immigration from Mexico. His research is the only rigorous census of Mexican-American illegal immigration flows, and its conclusions are that the US perception of Mexican migration is completely backwards, and that the major immigration problems are the result of bad policy, not changes in volume:

The MMP’s reports are freely available to anyone through its website, http://mmp.opr.princeton.edu. But statistics can be sterile things. Get Massey going, and one gets an earful about the true state of affairs along the border. To wit:

* We are not being flooded with illegal Mexican migrants. The total number of migrants from Mexico has varied very little since the 1950s. The massive influx many have written about never happened.

* Net illegal migration has stopped almost ­completely.

cont'd...

More:
http://boingboing.net/2012/08/08/mexican-us-illegal-migration-h.html

[fasttense]

1. I've always said it's not illegal immigrants that are the problem

it's illegal employers.

Employers can hire illegal immigrants all day, even though hiring illegals is a crime, and NOTHING ever happens to them. The immigrant might be locked up or deported but the employer gets a light tap on the wrist. Just ask the Tyson and Butterball corporations.

[bemildred]

2. Correct, immigration policies have always been about supplying exploitable labor.

Mainly for agriculture. Workers are harassed, employers are left alone. Sound familiar?