Number of Undocumented U.S. Residents now 10.5 million

The Washington Post and NY Times reported today that the estimated number of undocumented residents in the U.S. has now reached 10.5 million (up from an estimated 8.5 million in 2000). The story does not mention that one of the reason those numbers are one the rise is the increased border security. As the border becomes more difficult to cross, those who successfully enter the U.S. without authorization are more likely to stay, which interrupts the normal cyclical nature of immigration by undocumented workers.