The U.S. Census forecasts the population of the U.S. will grow by more than 100 million by the year 2060, and analysts say much of that growth will be from “family chain migration,” which is family members following after one member when he or she makes the move.
Ira Mehlman, the media director for Federations of Americans for Immigration Reform, told WND that the numbers are dire.
“There is no need for that magnitude of population growth in the United States today. … We are already dealing with [significant] issues on limited resources,” he said. “We are going through a post-industrial era here in the United States, the nature of what it takes to succeed … is vastly different than it was a century ago.”
He said the issue of immigration, and the change in demographics also forecast by the Census Bureau, are linked to that family chain migration.
“Family chain migration is what is going to be bringing about this demographic changes. We, the American people are no longer in control of our immigration policy … all on autopilot,” he said.
His comments followed a report from the Census Bureau that the population of the United States is expected to be some 400 million and it will be a “pluralistic” nation in another 50 years.
The Census Bureau’s Population Projection study indicates by 2060, the United States population will grow by another 100 million.
Acting Director Thomas L. Mesenbourg said, “The next half century marks key points in continuing trends – the U.S. will become a plurality nation, where the non-Hispanic white population remains the largest single group, but no group is in the majority.”
The study additionally pointed out that the population of the United States will be considerably older, with “the population age 65 and older is expected to more than double between 2012 and 2060, from 43.1 million to 92.0 million.”
This trend follows a consistent projections throughout the Western world where below replacement birth rates are leading to nations that are “very old” with many speculating great stresses coming upon Social Security and other welfare programs.
Mehlman said those family migration trends will be problematic.
“We are perpetuating a policy that is increasing poverty in this country,” he said. “We need to tailor our immigration policies based upon what we are trying to achieve in the future.”
The federal report forecasts Caucasians to reach a peak population of 199.6 million in 2024, but then fall by 20.6 million between the years of 2024 to 2060.
The study notes that Orientals will double from 15.9 million to 34.4 million, becoming 8.2 percent of the population in 2060, with blacks increasing slightly from 13.1 percent to 14.7 percent.
The crescendo of the study though, comes in 2043, when Caucasians no longer will be the majority. The non-Caucasian population will, according to the study, “more than double, from 116.2 million to 241.3 million over the period.”
The study then also indicates how by 2060, not only will Caucasians no longer be a majority, but also “the older population would continue to be predominately non-Hispanic white, while younger ages are increasingly minority. Of those age 65 and older in 2060, 56.0 percent are expected to be non-Hispanic white, 21.2 percent Hispanic and 12.5 percent non-Hispanic black.
“In contrast, while 52.7 percent of those younger than 18 were non-Hispanic white in 2012, that number would drop to 32.9 percent by 2060. Hispanics are projected to make up 38.0 percent of this group in 2060, up from 23.9 percent in 2012.”
Robert Vandervoort, the executive director of ProEnglish, a non-profit organization based in Arlington, Va., that advocates for making English the official language of the United States, is worried about the changing demographics and how it will affect national unity.
“If you look to our neighbors to the north, Quebec is separated from the rest of English-speaking Canada and this is a massive source of tension,” he said.
He advocates as a means to help facilitate integration and therefore ease any social tensions that “it is crucial that we adopt an official language for the country. Having a common language is what brings us all together.”
