by Frank James
The Pew Hispanic Center has released a new study today that concludes that 82 percent of the U.S. population growth by the year 2050 will be attributable to immigration, both legal and illegal.
The report estimates that in 2050, the U.S. population will reach 438 million, compared with 303.4 million currently.
The study doesn't break out estimates for legal immigration from the illegal variety, so it's hard to know what the effect of the study will be on the illegal-immigration debate.
Shifts in the nation's immigration policies could significantly change the eventual numbers of immigrants, the study's authors said.
For instance, if legal immigration levels were increased, immigrants' contribution to the U.S. population would obviously rise correspondingly.
As we've known for some time, Americans are going to look a lot different in forty plus years than they look now. As the report says:
By 2050, the nation’s racial and ethnic mix will look quite different than it does now. Non-Hispanic whites, who made up 67% of the population in 2005, will be 47% in 2050. Hispanics will rise from 14% of the population in 2005 to 29% in 2050. Blacks were 13% of the population in 2005 and will be roughly the same proportion in 2050. Asians, who were 5% of the population in 2005, will be 9% in 2050.
The study is also a reminder of how much the U.S. must rely on immigration if it hopes to continue to grow its economy and have enough workers to finance the retirements of the growing number of aging Americans.
Another point made in the study: by 2050, the foreign-born population will increase its share of the population to its highest level ever. By then, it should be about 19 percent of those living in the U.S.
Previous highs of 14.8 percent and 14.7 percent occured in 1890 and 1910, respectively.






Comments
Cue xenophobic anti-immigrant rants about "saving our culture"....
Posted by: JT | February 11, 2008 12:28 PM
Cue vitriolic and racist pro-illegal immigrant rants about their fellow Americans....
Posted by: Chavez | February 11, 2008 12:46 PM
Are we going to allow everybody into America? Tell that about suppressed story of Leprosy and tuberculosis in Arkansas?
We have hundreds of thousands of our own poor, without health care. Charity starts at home. It seems that illegal aliens have more rights than citizens. If we removed the 12 to 20 million now, our economy would blossom. We would adapt, like American citizens have always done. Our kids would go back to mowing the lawns and farmers would have to do some compromising with their crop picking. Many states would to use the example of Colorado and employ low-risk inmates. Otherwise they would have to purchase those new generation harvesting machines, that can do the work of an army of illegal aliens. Our school grades would make a dramatic comeback, as more time is spent with the children of permanent residence and legal citizens. Their wouldn't be any injured illegal workers for employers to discard on the emergency room steps or the reception area, so the waiting period would drop down to a couple of hours. Regular destitute citizens would be able receive quick treatment, at the welfare office or social services. Illegal foreign nationals would not be stealing the Social Security numbers of troops fighting abroad, or the ID of deceased Americans.Therefore relieving the anguish and stress when fighting the credit bureaus for their good name? Our roads would not be treated like a race track for the massive citizen "Road Kill" on our roads from illegal drunk drivers. Our state and federal prisons would not be feeding housing and hospitalizing over 500,000 inmates who broke our laws. Our US Border Patrol wouldn't necessary be in "harms way" from a continuous bombardment of drug smugglers. California wouldn't be scratching for dollars to prop up its 7.4 billion budget meltdown.
Legal black, white, yellow, brown citizens would have to be hired in the construction industry, landscaping and jobs that (Americans are snow-jobbed) because occupying aliens are not doing; so we are led to believe by the traitors in all level of government.) U.S. citizens would get jobs working as janitors in Universities, military reservations and public works; they would be maintaining the roads. We would be bringing into this nation, graduate engineers, physicists, scientists and other highly skilled labor. President Calderon of Mexico wouldn't be coming here, to spin more political garbage, instead he would be arresting the corrupt government officials in his own land and giving his poverty-stricken people part of the wealth owned by 1% of the rich there.We wouldn't be buying the cheap trash products from China, and other exporting countries, because citizens would all be working in good jobs and by "Made in the US." We would have a excellent negotiated free trade treaties, that would be attributed to a successful economy. We wouldn't be nation building on behalf of the avarice of globalist elites. Hundreds of thousands of our troops would leave, Germany, Japan, Britain to live the American dream with their families. May be would nuke the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and save millions of lives in Spain, USA, Pakistan, Iraq and other countries spread across the globe. We would have more charitable money to give to the less fortunate from shore to shiny shore and around the world. I am sure much more could be added???
Posted by: DavesBrittanicus | February 11, 2008 12:51 PM
DaveB-
What an interesting viewpoint...The illegal immigrants are preventing us from nuking Pakistan and Afghanistan, which you think would be a good thing. Yeah, OK.
Posted by: JT | February 11, 2008 1:08 PM
"PUBLIC INTEGRITY SECTION OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPEAKS"
THIS AIN'T NO 60 MINUTES SHOW YA'LL. THIS IS STRAIGHT UP "SKYWATCH" DETAIL.
CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THOSE "BIOMETRIC TATOOS" AND ALL THOSE "JOHN MCCAIN" FORENSIC DNA TATOOS FOR $5,000 AND YOUR MISDEAMEANOR "ATTESTATION" BEFORE SECRETARY CHERTOF OR THE NEXT SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHY 3 MILES OF FENCING HAS ONLY BEEN COMPLETED AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF UNACCOUNTABLE BILLIONS LOST.
IMMIGRATION WAS BUSHGATES
FINAL "CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BREAKING TRIGGAR" SATAN BILL 1639 SECURED BORDERS "ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY" IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT OF 2006.
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS TO SUBJECT FEAR, PERSECUTION, RENDENTION, IMPRISONMENT IN DETENTION CAMPS WITH A BIG FENCE TO BOOT.
AMERICA'S OWN KARL ROVE / CHERTOFF HOLOCAUST.
ALL ABOARD THE JOHN MCCAIN "SHOOT STRAIGHT" FORENSIC DNA TRAIN.
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 11, 2008 1:47 PM
America wouldn't need so much Mexican labor if we allowed every aborted fetus to grow up and enter the workforce.
This is what Mike Huckabee would have you believe.
We are seeing a Latinization of America.
But also, despite the doubts of skeptics, Latinos are going through a very rapid and successful process of Americanization and integration. The United States will one day be a nation shaped by many different Hispanic heritages.
America has long been a multiethnic, multiracial, multicultural nation, and our battles over inclusion and acculturation have transformed our identity. Now Latinos will be leading the way to the next important demographic transformation in America.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/30/sunday/main1847500.shtml
http://robinson.gsu.edu/magazine/spring2007/latinization.html
http://www.npr.org/programs/totn/features/2001/jan/010125.cfoa.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/history/la-et-125latinization3dec03,1,4493541.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 11, 2008 1:51 PM
U.S. population growth should be attributable to LEGAL immigration only!!!
Posted by: Milton Smith | February 11, 2008 2:09 PM
I mourn the loss of my beloved USA. I have been stripped of my culture, language and the rule of law. I now live in a trashy, dangerous, over crowded third world cesspool.
What happened to our wonderful melting pot? We were united by language, culture and the love of Country as we arrived from around the globe.
Posted by: Shelly | February 11, 2008 3:24 PM
Before the U.S. population reaches 438 million, the transformation from a largely middle class nation to a nation of a few very rich and many very poor will be complete. Public schools, already struggling, will be pits of violence. The crime rate will skyrocket.
Foreign entanglements (wars) will expand, fueled by the influx of canon fodder. The draft will be reinstated.
What a country.
Posted by: Erik Kengaard | February 11, 2008 3:24 PM
My view on immigration is simple. If the immigrant is attractive like a David Beckham or Anna Kournikova, I say bring more in. If they are ugly and dirty with brown skin like many from the 3rd world countries to our south...No thank you, wait in line.
Posted by: Typical Republican | February 11, 2008 3:28 PM
"I mourn the loss of my beloved USA. I have been stripped of my culture, language and the rule of law."
Really? You are not allowed to speak English anymore? You are not allowed to practice the cultural pursuits of your choice?
Hogwash. What nonsense.
Posted by: JT | February 11, 2008 3:42 PM
Starting in the 1960's Americans were brainwashed with the idea
that the United State was becoming
overpopulated and that we would
destroy the environment if we
didn't control population growth.
With birth control and abortions
we have reduced growth of the
white population to zero.
Now they are saying we don't
have enough people and we
have to import them from the
third world. It seems like
a conspiracy to reduce the
white population of the
United State.
The United States was created
by white people from Europe
and it was the most successful
country on the planet.
Now it is being over run by
mexicans who's country is one of
the worst failures on the planet. The average education
level in mexico is only about
sixth grade. I don't see bringing masses of people
who don't care about education
as being a great asset to this country.
Posted by: Phil | February 11, 2008 4:09 PM
I get tired of hearing from the PEW hispanic center, they always make out the illegals like they were a gift from God himself. Bad enough we have to put up with Chamber of Commerces wanting to sell out Americans one job at a time. It will be a uphill battle fighting to hold on to our rights against politicians, special interests, and chamber of commerces, but we have to do it.
Posted by: howard | February 11, 2008 4:13 PM
Visit:
www.numbersusa.com
www.fairus.org
Get involved NOW!
This does not have to be about racism. It should be about whats fair to immigrants AND US CITIZENS, and the environment!
If we allow everyone to come here then their native countries will not have to seriously address their population growth - and world population is a concern for us all.
Lets reduce immigration to reasonable levels and make it a fair system. We allow over 1 million people in each year legally!!
I suggest we start by making that 250,000 per year, which is still a huge number.
Step up now! We can change this if we all try and we keep the debate reasonable. Let others against limited immigration reform prove they can have an intelligent debate with us on this without using the 'r' word.
Posted by: M | February 11, 2008 4:44 PM
"Cue xenophobic anti-immigrant rants about "saving our culture"...
LOL! Of course. No one wants to hear "fair and balanced". That's a ridiculous notion.
There is hardly a bigger Xenophobe than my father. I know one when I see one. Thank God that Jesus dwells in my heart and that I have only to look at His example to cast off the "demon" that is bigotry.
"Render[ing] unto Caesar..." was not a commentary on immigration. It was a commentary on taxes. And tithes. The book of Acts says , "obey the Laws of God above any human authority". Among those laws? Love they neighbor... in spite of theyself. Okay - the last part is my personal commentary. :) I figure you guys know the ACTUAL verse.
Posted by: Beth | February 11, 2008 5:45 PM
People Look at it This Way
Mexico is a worthless Nation
its Success is Nation Wide Welfare it gets From American tax payers they will not be a country for long it will turn
into the Largest Drug Cartel in the World Soon its population can't do a Singel Thing With out Charity From Other Nations
Like La raza Said Before The Sleeping Giant Has Awoke Now thy Are Demanding
There Welfare Checks and food stamps
========================
We Are On our way to being
like Mexico !! lets all practice begging other Nations for free services
and other types of handouts
When Spain left Mexico the whole damn country fell apart now its nothing more
then a cesspool of trash!!
Posted by: Ruben | February 11, 2008 7:19 PM
Logic Prisoner
You wrote: "Now Latinos will be leading the way to the next important demographic transformation in America".
And they've done so well south of our border, I can't wait to see how the U.S. fares.
I'll be long dead by the time our country's demographics are altered by immigration and high birth rates, but my grandchildren will inherit this sad future of overcrowding and rationing. The U.S. won't be fit to live in, but boy won't the corporations be happy.
Thanks Bush, Clinton, et al. Hope you live long enough to witness the destruction you've brought down upon us.
Posted by: franks | February 12, 2008 1:37 AM
As the child of 2 legal immigrants and the neighbor of 5 more legal immigrants, I think immigration is GREAT. LEGAL IMMIGRATION, that is.
And what I find most interesting in the segregation of the author of this story, Frank James, who assumes that Hispanics are some sort of monolithic entity, and that there is a "Hispanic" race.
Is someone Hispanic if they are 5th generation English speakers? In the world of Frank James, yes.
Is someone Hispanic if they are 1/8th Hispanic? Or 1/16th? In the world of Frank James, yes to both.
I now expect this type of bigotry from the ignorant who like to paint broad strokes of color whenever possible.
I wonder if James and other Tribune staffers can tell "Hispanics" by looking, and judge their coworkers so easily.
And I wonder if the Hispanics in the office are happy about it.
Posted by: Dan C | February 12, 2008 7:51 AM
Sorry I'm a little late to the conversation, but I thought I'd add my two cents...found this online and it is simply alarming...I've put it here as a warning to everyone who considers themselves patriotic Americans...read all the way to the end to see where it is going...1)it says learning Spanish will no longer be an option to get a job, it will be mandatory 2) the American mainstream as we've always known it will be replaced by a new Latin American mainstream that refocuses our worldview away from Europe and onto South America 3)it seems to imply that all nonHispanics in the U.S. will be expected to reverse-assimilate to the new culture.
http://www.centerforsiouxland.org/documents/news_attach/The_Latinization_of_America.pdf
And check out the term "Latinization of America" in your search engine....pretty scary how many times the actual term comes up. :( What blows my mind is the hypocrisy by the multiculturalists who claim American culture shouldn't dominate, yet there's nary a peep at the Hispanics boast that their culture will someday dominate the land. It blows my mind that so many nonHispanic American-born politicians and business people are willing to put the future of their descendents and the most heavily armed country in the world into the hands of single-sighted, ethnocentric bigots who don't have a clue at running a country the decent way, all so they can pad their pockets at our expense. "Politically correct" my ---!" If Europeans have to give up the U.S. at least let's be TRULY "P.C." and give it back to the Native American tribes rather than let a partly EUROPEAN ethnic group simply replace the English-speaking country with the Spanish empire. To this day Mexicans in Mexico oppress indegionous native tribes within their region because they don't want to be latinos in culture. Hypocrisy, isn't it? Between the elected officials not preventing the so-called Latinization of America and Europe rumored to be in danger of being kidnapped by Bin Lauden-style Islam before too long, it seems we're headed into another Dark Ages very soon to come. Very Dark, I fear. :(
Posted by: Danielle M. | April 1, 2008 3:16 AM