How many immigrants live in America?

Question

We're researching a debate topic in AP Human Geography and one fact I cannot find is how many immigrants live in America? Obviously, excluding illegal immigrants.

If you'd like to suggest ways to argue why English shouldn't be an official language of the US, feel free to post those too =)

Kthnx :D!

Answer 1

I think other than the Native Americans, everyone's an immigrant.
Yup, I know you wish to forget it, but it happens to be true.

Answer 2

That depends absolutely on what your definition of an immigrant is. If you're talking in terms of a generation (around 30 years) then it would be a much much smaller number than if you counted from 1900 - and immensely smaller than if you counted from 1800. The CIA world factbook gives the figure of 3.05 migrants/1000 population. Basically that means that the US receives a 0.305% increase in its population per year due to immigration - however that's a TOTAL increase, it's put down again by emmigrants, so in reality there are more immigrants than that - even by official standards. If you're talking about illegal immigration it's even higher.

I'd never argue English shouldn't be AN official language of the US. I'd argue against it being THE official language of the US - based on the fact that there is, and always has been, a significant proportion of the population who does not speak English, either as a first language or at all. 200 years or so ago German was considered to be the best candidate for the offical US langauge. I see absolutely no reason why the US can't be AT LEAST bilingual with Spanish - Ireland has two languages (Irish and English) - it doesn't make them any less a good country. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of other languages spoken in the US, many native languages, as well as other US indigenous langauges such as Pennsylvania Dutch. Why don't they get a say?

Answer 3

I think the original American Immigrants from England are dead now. The US is NOT primary made up of immigrants - it was settled by immigrants, big difference. Immigration is about 10-15% each year, some stay permanent, some on a work visa.

The census is on the Census.gov site for yearly immigrants to the US and then there is a seperate poll for legalized citizens each year.

Answer 4

80% of us are native born so 20% of 300 million would be immigrants. Way too many. Time for a moratorium on all immigration!

There are 20-40 million illegals here.

English should be the ONLY language spoken here!

Answer 5

No accurate way to count legal immigrants but 30+ million are here illegally.

Answer 6

The United States of America is primarily made up of immigrants but the number of illegal immigrants is estimated between 12 million and 15 million. And by the way Magma "Native Americans" are originally from the continent of Asia and before the Europeans came to the US the "Natives" would argue that rival tribes were invading each others space.No matter how long you argue that point you will allways be off base.

Answer 7

At least 200 million from Europe.

Answer 8

Estimates of the numbers of immigrants in the United States range from 28.4 to 31.1 million, based on varying interpretations of census data collected in the year 2000. (The total U.S. population in 2000 was 281 million.)

Answer 9

Count up the amount of Native Americans are in America = X

Now subtract 300 million - X = amount of immigrants.

Answer 10

last i heard it was 1 in 8 are immigrants.and 1 in 5 in canada.

Answer 11

every person not of native descent is an immigrant, or descended from them.