California's Population Explosion Due To Immigration

Census Bureau figures reveal that the state's population grew from 29.8 million in 1990 to more than 34 million in 2000, an increase of more than 4 million people. According to authors of the studies, that growth is greater than the combined increase in population of all the northeastern states from Maine to Virginia during that same period. Demographers project that if the same rate of growth continues, California's population will double in just 40 years.

During the measured twelve-year span, immigrants and births to immigrants accounted for the net increase of 4.1 million people after allowing for deaths and those leaving the state. Native-born residents (those residing in the state prior to 1990) decreased by about 100,000 and this was not compensated for by other Americans moving to California.

CAPS commissioned two separate studies of population growth factors in California in order to ensure the accuracy of the findings. The two studies used slightly different sets of data, with both arriving at conclusions that differed by only 2%. Leon Bouvier, Ph.D., demographer and author of Fifty Million Californians performed one study. Bouvier based his study on data supplied by the California Department of Finance. Environmental analyst Dick Schneider did the second study. He combined state statistics with information from the Census Bureau, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and existing research on domestic migration.

"A number of things are very clear from these vitally important studies," said Diana Hull, Ph.D., President of CAPS. "The first and most important is what we all know in California-we are in the midst of a population crisis that is already affecting virtually every aspect of life in our state and which is only going to get worse."

"The second finding that nobody in California wants to talk about, due to political correctness, is the underlying cause of our problem which is totally uncontrolled immigration and the high fertility rates associated with major immigrant groups. Stop immigration and we'll be on the way to saving our quality of life—do nothing and we will soon reach the limits of livability."

"And third, there is a message of hope in the findings. The first step in fixing any problem is determining the cause, which we have now established conclusively. Now it's up to Californians to have the courage to address this growth crisis head-on," Hull concluded.

One of CAPS' primary tenets is that the vast majority of California's myriad problems can be attributed to over-immigration. Traffic congestion, schools, the water crisis and the state's record $37 billion budget shortfall have all emerged according to the group because there are too many people for the state's now beleaguered resources. According to CAPS, the crisis in which California finds itself today is just the beginning of a population nightmare that will continue to worsen unless immigration is slowed considerably or brought to a halt.

Copies of the studies may be obtained by contacting Diana Hull at 805-564-6626 or downloaded in pdf format California's Population Growth 1990-2002: Virtually All From Immigration.

ABOUT CALIFORNIANS FOR POPULATION STABILIZATION (CAPS):
Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to formulating and advancing policies and programs designed to stabilize the population of California at a level which will preserve a good quality of life for all Californians.