Homeland Security: Its 530,000 illegal immigrants ranks Az 6th in U.S.

(Compiler's note: Next question is how many are getting benefits from the U.S. Gov't?)

More than half a million illegal immigrants lived in Arizona in January 2007, a recent study by the federal government estimates.

The state's illegal immigrant population reached 530,000 last year, a 62 percent increase from 330,000 in 2000, according to the report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

.... California remained the leading state of residence for the illegal population with 2.8 million, followed by Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois.

Although Mexico continues to be the largest source of illegal immigration, immigrants from Brazil, India, Guatemala and Honduras account for the greatest percentage increases during the past seven years, according to the report. ....