The nation's recession has slowed assimilation among immigrants because many have left the country and fewer are trying to enter the United States, according to a study released Monday in New York.

``The economic downturn had a disproportionate impact on immigrants relative to natives,'' said Jacob L. Vigdor, author of ``Measuring Immigrant Assimilation in the United States'' published Monday by the conservative Manhattan Institute. Vigdor is professor of public policy and economics at Duke University.

The conclusions contrasted sharply with findings in last year's report, which revealed that new immigrants were assimilating more quickly than immigrants a century ago.

The report also reaffirmed evidence that many foreign nationals -- legal and undocumented -- are leaving the country as a result of economic conditions.

DECLINE DATA

Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau and Homeland Security have pointed to a decline in the immigrant population, especially among undocumented immigrants. Federal authorities estimate the number of undocumented immigrants has dropped from 11.8 million in January 2007 to 11.6 million in January 2008.

While the focus of the Manhattan Institute report is not the size of the immigrant population, it notes assimilation trends have slowed or stalled because the number of immigrants has declined.

Vigdor's work defines fully assimilated immigrants as those who are indistinguishable from natives in ability to speak English, economic or educational achievements and citizenship. The most recent data in Vigdor's study, from 2007, shows a stagnation in his assimilation index.

``The absence of change in the assimilation index between 2006 and 2007 is not altogether surprising,'' he wrote. ``The economic slowdown that was at least partly responsible for the decline in the rate of immigration hurt immigrants more than the native-born population.''

INCREASE IN MIAMI

Though the overall assimilation index stalled, it increased in Houston and Miami, two of the country's metropolitan areas with substantial immigrant populations.

The study showed Cubans remained among immigrants who more easily assimilate -- particularly in terms of economic achievement. In the study, Cubans were among the top five nationalities that more quickly assimilate along with Canadians, South Koreans, Filipinos and Vietnamese.

The number of undocumented Cubans arriving by sea and land has declined, partly because of the recession.

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