The Recession's Imprint On Immigration

New census data suggests the recession is deterring new immigrants from coming to the United States – but Public Agenda's research shows it isn't shaking those who are already here.

The percentage of foreign-born people in the United States dipped slightly in 2008, the first time that's happened this decade. The foreign-born population fell from 12.6 percent in 2007 to 12.5 percent in 2008. The total number of non-citizens fell from 21.9 million to 21.6 million.

Experts said fewer people are emigrating to the United States because of the recession, and the census data picked up other recession-related changes, too. Homeownership rates and median home values both fell, for example. And not only are fewer people moving to America, but fewer Americans are moving anywhere, as the number who changed residences dropped from 16 percent to 15 percent.

Our new survey of immigrants, A Place to Call Home, also picked up indications of economic strain. Six in 10 said the economy was the biggest problem facing the nation, and there were significant increases in those who cite economic concerns, like getting a job, as major reasons to pursue citizenship. If anything, newer immigrants – those who have come here since 2002 – are even more likely to cite getting a job (82 percent versus 65 percent) and being eligible for government aid (46 percent versus 31 percent) as major reasons to become citizens.

Yet the recession doesn't seem to have shaken fundamental perceptions: seven in 10 immigrants say they plan to make the United States their permanent home, comparable with the last time we asked in 2002.

We found the Mexican immigrants we surveyed are even more concerned about the economy than others, yet also even more likely to say the U.S. will be their permanent home – 80 percent compared to 68 percent of all other immigrants.