Demographics Explains Why Politicians Don't Take Illegal Immigration Seriously

Aside from the fact that most of our politicians are millionaires who live extremely isolated lives, demographics may also explain part of why they aren't concerned about illegal immigration. Most politicians are older, so they tend to hang out with older people; as that NYT article illustrates, most illegal immigrants are younger. This age gap may not have as much an effect on a Senator's perception as the mere fact that a high and mighty senator wouldn't have many occasions to be harassed or inconvenienced by illegal immigrants, but it probably plays a small role.

More than 20 percent of children in the United States either are foreign-born or have a parent who was born abroad. Nearly half the children under age 5 are Hispanic, black or Asian.

Over all, the median age of Americans reached 36.6 years, another record high. It ranged from 27.4 among Hispanics to 40.5 among non-Hispanic whites.

The census counted more than 73,000 centenarians (about 14,000 men and 59,000 women) and also 78 million baby boomers (those born from 1946 to 1964), who, as they turn 60, are helping to drive the racial generation gap. ...

The changes have potential implications for national politics. In Nevada, where the share of whites has declined to 59 percent from 66 percent since 2000, the voting-age population has soared 25 percent, with minorities accounting for 63 percent of that increase. Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee have recorded the greatest percentage gains in their Hispanic population since 2000, with the biggest numerical gains, predictably, registered by California, Texas and Florida.

I don't care what race anyone is, but I'd really like a discussion about how illegal immigration is affecting our demography. Apparently that's beyond the capability of the NYT.