Immigrants Here in Record Numbers

The face of the American Midwest is changing. In the past decade, large groups of immigrants have moved into the Chicago metropolitan area. People are coming from around the world, but the largest group has been Mexicans, many of whom are undocumented and poorly educated. Despite their illegal status, these immigrants have made contributions to the economy and reversed Chicago's population decline, say immigration advocates. Immigrants' household income has also risen in the past decade, and now for the first time since the 19th Century, says a new study, more immigrants live in the suburbs than downtown. Some immigration critics, however, worry about the potential social and environmental problems of unregulated immigration. – YaleGlobal