WASHINGTON (AP) – A new report says growing numbers of children of illegal immigrants are being born in this country.

The report released today by the nonprofit Pew Hispanic Center also says those children are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty than those with American-born parents.

The study highlights a growing dilemma in the immigration debate. Illegal immigrants’ children born in the United States are U.S. citizens. However, they struggle in poverty and uncertainty along with parents who fear deportation, toil largely in low-wage jobs and face layoffs in an ailing economy.

The analysis found that the nation’s estimated 11.9 million illegal immigrants lived in the United States in 2008. Of those, 8.3 million made up 5.4% of the U.S. work force. Most are in lower-paying farming, construction or janitorial work.

Roughly three out of 4 of their children – or 4 million – were born in the United States. In 2003, 2.7 million children of illegal immigrants were born in this country.

Overall, illegal immigrants’ children account for 1 of every 15 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

In 2008, California had the most illegal immigrants at 2.7 million, double its 1990 number, followed by Texas.

Pew report on the Net:

Pew Hispanic Center: http://pewhispanic.org/

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