Early reports from the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of a significant (2.2 million) decrease in the legal and illegal immigrant population in America have been questioned by some, who suggest that the apparent decrease stems from an increasing reluctance of immigrants to respond to surveys. However, new data, from August, confirms that the reduction is real.
The August data showed the same decrease in immigrant numbers as July, suggesting that the previous results were not anomalous. In addition, survey data does not show any decline in the willingness of those surveyed to respond. Quite the contrary, actually: August surveys showed a jump. Also, data from the Job Opening and Labor Force Turnover Survey (JOLTS) shows an increase in workers leaving jobs in food services and construction, industries with large concentrations of immigrants.
Finally, an “enormous number” of accounts of widespread departures of foreign-born workers add credence to the overall decline.
For more, see the CIS website.