Weekly Editorial Recap

WEDNESDAY

WITHOUT PAPERS

Don't tell Harry Reid, but a new study released Tuesday finds that the percentage of illegal immigrants among Nevada's population is the highest of any state in the union.

So, too, is the percentage of illegals in the state's work force.

Remember, it was Sen. Reid who during last year's campaign famously denied that any undocumented workers toiled in the Las Vegas construction industry. "That may be someplace, but it is not here in Nevada," he said.

Sen. Reid may want to spend more time in his home state. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, which based its data on census information, illegals account for 12.2 percent of Nevada's 1.393 million workers. Obviously, some of them work in construction, even considering the local downturn.

In addition, illegals make up 7.2 percent of Nevada's population. California (6.8 percent) and Texas (6.7 percent) were right behind. ...

The Pew numbers have very real ramifications for state and local policymakers -- whether it's concering UMC, the justice system or the school district -- as they struggle with the state's lingering economic malaise.