(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-31 09:20

There are around 43 million Hispanics in the United States, making them the country's largest minority, and Mexicans and Central Americans account for the vast majority of some 12 million illegal immigrants.

Tighter immigration laws and police raids have added further pressure on illegal workers and residents.

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"There is less work, and more fear (of deportation)," said one Mexican illegal immigrant who lives with his family in Kansas. "Employers are relying more and more on you having a Social Security number in order."

Although there is no formal tally, Mexican consular sources say a growing number of illegal immigrants across the United States are starting to pack their bags and return home.

Illegal immigrants were able to buy US homes during the boom years, either by showing evidence that they pay taxes or by simply presenting false documents.

Many of them took out high interest fixed-rate loans or subprime mortgages with a low entry rate that later rose sharply. Experts say language difficulties made them more vulnerable to being offered, and taking, bad deals.

"They were more exposed to abuse," said Alejandra Louden of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's housing department, which carried out a recent study on Latino home loan foreclosures. "Documents were in English and explained in Spanish, and some vital explanation would be missing."

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