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Immigration facts and figures

The Fresno Bee

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 | 12:01 AM

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72% of Californians think most illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the U.S. for at least two years should be given a chance to keep their jobs and apply for legal status.

25% of Californians believe that illegal immigrants should be deported.

65% of people living in the Central Valley said they believe immigration policies are in need of major changes, compared to 69% statewide.

9% of people living in the Central Valley said immigration policy is fine the way it is, compared to 7.8% statewide. 55% of Valley voters support the Arizona law, compared to 50% of voters statewide.

9% decrease in the cost of housecleaning services because of the increase in the number of low-skilled immigrants over those years, many of them illegal immigrants.

Editor's note

- Join the conversation: Go here to comment on these stories.

- Most illegal immigrants, fearing deportation, agreed to speak only if The Bee identified them by their first names. Interviews in Spanish were conducted with help from professional interpreter Darlen Perez and others.

- The Bee follows Associated Press style, which favors "illegal immigrant" over "illegal alien" or "undocumented worker" as the most neutral and factual term.

- Bee staff writer Chris Collins reviewed dozens of studies from government agencies and advocacy groups with varying viewpoints as part of his research. Go here for a bibliography and collection of links.

OTHER FACTS

The average day laborer:

  • Is in his early 30s.

  • Has seven years of schooling.

  • Has been in the United States for less than 10 years.

  • Usually works two or three days a week, even if he looks for work five days a week.

  • Is paid in cash.

  • Earns a relatively high hourly wage of $11.

  • Doesn't have taxes withheld.

  • Oftentimes, they are workers who work seasonal jobs and fill in the gaps with day labor. About half of the time, they are hired by private employers; contractors and subcontractors make up 43% of day laborer employers; private companies hire them only a fraction of the time.

Sources: Field Poll; Pew Hispanic Center; Public Policy Institute of California; University of Chicago

Join the conversation: Go here to comment on these stories.


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