Citing US Troubles, Illegal Immigrants 'Self-Deport'

More illegal immigrants in the US are "self-deporting" back to their home countries in the face of stricter immigration enforcement and a worsening economy, Reuters reports. "The situation has got so tough that there don't seem to be many options left for us," said a Mexican immigrant. No exact numbers are known, but Reuters cites a spike in immigrants requesting Mexican citizenship for their US-born children and anecdotal reports from elsewhere.

Immigrants are also relocating within the US as local governments get tougher on illegal immigration. "Everyone lives in fear of the police stopping you for some minor infraction and then asking for your papers," said an illegal immigrant who is considering a move from Arizona to Oregon. “I want to get as far way from here as possible.” (More illegal immigrant stories.)