­by Elizabeth Glass

Border patrol agents arrest undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented immigration into the United States decreased substantially between 2007 Released Jan. 9, it estimated the number of persons in this country without papers last year at 10.8 million, down from 11.8 million in 2007.

That coincided with the start of this country’s recession.

The drop takes into account both a reduction in newcomers and those who departed for lack of work.

Differing views are put forth as to whether the decrease will benefit or hinder efforts to advance an immigration reform bill through Congress.

Advocates for greater...