THE BORDER

Fewer Illegal Immigrants Come to U.S.

Many Mexicans now believe trek isn’t worth the risk.  

Fewer Mexicans are immigrating illegally across the border into the United States as fewer jobs, harsher border control, and threats against leaving from violent Mexican gangs have made the trek to the U.S. less and less appealing. At the peak in 2000, 1.6 million people were arrested attempting to cross the border illegally over an 11-month period. Over the 11-month period that ended in August 2011, that number dropped to 304,755. Mexico itself is feeling a change, as its interior secretary for migration matters noted that "our country is not experiencing the population loss due to migration that was seen nearly 50 years ago."