Changes

By 2005, the Latino population in the US reached 41.3 million, of whom 64% were Mexican, 10% Puerto Rican, 3% Cuban, 3% Dominican, 3% Salvadoran, and the remaining 17% from smaller groups. <ref> See Census Bureau press release, July 16, 2007  at [http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010327.html]</ref> According to the Pew Research Center in 2008, 12,7 millions were of Mexican origin (32% of all immigrants living in this country). <ref> [http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1191/mexican-immigrants-in-america-largest-group Mexican Immigrants in the United States, 2008] </ref> About 30% of the Latinos --12 million --are illegal ("undocumented") immigrants to the U.S., a number that has grown since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9-11 attacks of 2001]].  The illegal--and indeed the legal immigrants-- have become targets of verbal and political criticism.  

By 2005, the Latino population in the US reached 41.3 million, of whom 64% were Mexican, 10% Puerto Rican, 3% Cuban, 3% Dominican, 3% Salvadoran, and the remaining 17% from smaller groups. <ref> See Census Bureau press release, July 16, 2007  at [http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010327.html]</ref> According to the Pew Research Center in 2008, 12,7 millions were of Mexican origin (32% of all immigrants living in this country). <ref> [http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1191/mexican-immigrants-in-america-largest-group Mexican Immigrants in the United States, 2008] </ref> About 30% of the Latinos --12 million --are illegal ("undocumented") immigrants to the U.S., a number that has grown since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9-11 attacks of 2001]].  The illegal--and indeed the legal immigrants-- have become targets of verbal and political criticism.  

Culturally they are mostly [[conservative]] [[Catholics]], with a strong [[evangelical]] element. They are known for very strong family ties, and high birth rates. They cluster at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, with low levels of education and high dropout rates from schools, and mostly hold unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. The illegals ("undocumented") hold even lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, landscaping, hotels and restaurants, while sending money back to their families. The Latino crime rate is about the national average. The illegals pay the same sales taxes as everyone, but usually have incomes too low to pay income taxes.  Many of the ilegals pay social security taxes into false accounts (which means they are not entitled to benefits).  The legals include both citizens and legal residents who are not yet citizens; all children born in the U.S. have U.S. citizenship. In many families, some members are illegal and some are legal non-citizens and others are full citizens.

Culturally they are mostly [[conservative]] [[Catholics]], with a strong [[evangelical]] element. They are known for very strong family ties, and high birth rates. They cluster at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, with low levels of education and high dropout rates from schools, and mostly hold unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. The "illegals" (undocumented) hold even lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, landscaping, hotels and restaurants, while sending money back to their families. The Latino crime rate is about the national average. The illegals pay the same sales taxes as everyone, but usually have incomes too low to pay income taxes.  Many of the ilegals pay social security taxes into false accounts (which means they are not entitled to benefits).  The legals include both citizens and legal residents who are not yet citizens; all children born in the U.S. have U.S. citizenship. In many families, some members are illegal and some are legal non-citizens and others are full citizens.

They have been politically rather inactive (except in [[New Mexico]] and [[Puerto Rico]]). Polically, the citizens have low turnout rates, but their rapid increase of numbers presages a major voting block. [[George W. Bush]], and to a lesser extent [[John McCain]] have made major efforts to attract them to the Republican Party, but Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 65:35.

They have been politically rather inactive (except in [[New Mexico]] and [[Puerto Rico]]). Polically, the citizens have low turnout rates, but their rapid increase of numbers presages a major voting block. [[George W. Bush]], and to a lesser extent [[John McCain]] have made major efforts to attract them to the Republican Party, but Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 65:35.