What percentage of illegal immigrants "snuck across the border", and what percentage just overstayed a visa?

Question

Of course there is a big difference between someone whose visa inadvertently expired last tuesday, and someone who has been here for years after their paperwork expired, (and neither situation is ultimately acceptable) but I'm intrigued to learn (in light of what various candidates for office have been saying about 'building a fence') what you think you know!

Answer 1

Gokart121 is correct, most data show that the split is about 60/40.

60% of the aliens that are presently in the United States and are Out of Status entered without inspection, while 40% entered legally but have expired I-94s.

Of course, a vast majority of the 60% is of Mexican nationality. The remaining minority would be composed of Latin Americans and possibly a few "others."

The 40% is a plethora of nationalities. They range from the Afghanistanis to Zimbabweans (sp?).

It is not very easy to find all of the overstays. It is not like they are going to list a valid address on their DS-156s or I-94s.

Answer 2

Only About 100 Thousand Per Year
Can Possibly Overstay Their Visa
(That Is ABOUT How Many Visas
Are Issued To Mexico Each Year)
(I Am Using MEXICO As An Example Here)

Considering
There Are An Estimated 3 Million ILLEGAL Mexicanos
That ILLEGALLY Enter The USA Each Year
Compared To 100 Thousand Visa Overstays
(IF All 100 Thousand Overstay)

I Would Mathematically Estimate That
3 Percent Are Visa Overstays

That Concludes That
97 Percent Are ILLEGALLY Jumping The Border Annually

Guesstimating Off The Top Of My Head
BUT
I'm Willing To Bet That I'm CLOSE

Give Or Take 6.6 Percent (LOL)






90 - 97 Percent Are ILLEGALLY Jumping The Border Annually






Loosely Translated
1 Out Of 10 Mexicanos Enter On A Visa And MIGHT Overstay
9 Out Of 10 Mexicanos Jump The Fence

Answer 3

there is no way anyone has that answer. They think when the census bureau comes around everyone is going to tell the truth. yeah, sure. that fence should've never had to be. you can get thru the border just by paying someone, mexico is soo poor, the police take bribes. U.S. helps everyone around the world and other countries with food and resources, here you have hard working people that want to work, not a hand out. Their president and our president need to meet together to find out how they can keep their people in mexico. they need jobs. we import alot of their products, just look in a fiesta store. why can't their country do something about this problem. if your family was starving, wouldn't you do something drastic to get work for food and shelter? If you said no, you must not love your family. They are not coming over here to hang out under our freeways, they are here to work. Yes we do get the bad people too, but again, their government needs to do something about it. And a fence is not the answer. how many of you have actually gone into mexico, not the border, but the real mexico, where there is no running water, you have to wak miles to a store. A wagon comes by with water and ice. people don't have refridgerators or stoves. that's why when they come here, they are happy to live in a slum lord's apartment with no complaints. its easier said than done people.

Answer 4

I think it's like 60/40 border/overstays, something like that, points to the need for better enforcement on both, don't you think?

The border fence, along with employer enforcement, city/state level participation, reporting, and enforcement, all of these things COMBINED will prove effective at reducing illegal immigration. I think you'll always have 'the one that got away', but that's better than the 1/2 million that got away...

Answer 5

I doubt there are actual statistics on this... illegal immigrants tend to avoid census people or do anything to draw the attention of the government to their situtation.

Answer 6

If we actually knew the numbers we would have no problem finding them and sending them back now would we?

Answer 7

I'm not sure but what does it matter? They are both ILLEGAL.