Illegal immigration in Arizona

The federal government estimated that Arizona had one of thefastest growing illegal immigrant populations in the country,increasing from 330,000 in 2000 to 560,000 by 2008. Arizona has adopted other laws to deter the settlement of llegalimmigrants in the state in recent years. The federal government estimates that the illegal immigrant population dropped by 18 percent in the state from 2008 to 2009, compared to a 7 percent drop for the nation as a whole.

This may be evidence that the state enforcement efforts are having an impact. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has found that 22 percent of felonies in the county are committed by illegalimmigrants.Illegal immigrants are estimated to be 10 percent of the county’s adult population.

Analysis of data from State Criminal Alien Assistance Program showed that illegal immigrants were 11 percent of the state’s prison population. Illegal immigrants were estimated to be 8 percent of state’s adult population at the time of the analysis.

Approximately 17 percent of those arrested by the Border Patrol units Tucson Sector have criminal records in the United States. The issue of illegal immigration and crime is very difficult to measure, and while in Arizona there is evidence that illegal immigrants are committing a disproportionate share of crime, it is not clear this is the case nationally. In 2007, an estimated 12 percent of workers in the Arizona were illegal aliens. In 2007, illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) comprised one-fifth of those in the state living in poverty, one-third of those without health insurance, and one out of six students in the state’s schools. In 2007, one-third of households headed by illegal immigrants in Arizona used at least one major welfare program, primarily food-assistance programs or Medicaid. Benefits were typically received on behalf of U.S.-born children.