And net migration statistics should continue to be taken with a major dose of salt.
Labour said the government had made a "no ifs no buts" pledge to slash net migration.
The Conservatives are determined to cut net migration, and irregular migrants are a tempting target.
Mr Hague argued that the government was already working to reduce overall net migration to Britain.
Only Detroit has a higher net migration rate among the 200 largest U.S. metros.
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The overall UK net migration figure fell from 242, 000 to 183, 000 in the year to March.
The net migration to the U.S. is estimated to have been flat for several years.
The latest figures tell us that EU-net migration, which the Government cannot control, is increasing.
Also posting strong net migration gains for 2010-11 were Miami (second place), Washington, D.
The recession may have slowed the pace of net migration, but the essential pattern has remained in place.
In what Cox calls "the decade of the South, " 90% of all net migration went to southern states.
But they stressed that they were sticking by what they describe as the international definition of net migration.
The previous set of figures - to the end of March 2012 - showed net migration was 183, 000.
In the year up to June 2010, net migration to our country from EU nationals was just 27, 000.
The line marked old age structure assumes net migration of 140, 000 but with higher life expectancy and lower fertility.
"Everything excluded from the net migration measure is being ignored - even if it causes serious problems, " she said.
Reduced immigration today means reduced emigration in a year or two's time, which could see net migration rise again.
We also factor in quality of life issues like crime rates, cultural and recreational opportunities and net migration patterns.
Net migration, which tracks shifts in the population after cancelling out offsetting moves, has remained relatively constant (see chart).
Net migration figures fell last year, with officials saying this was "largely due" to a drop in foreign students.
"Germany has woken up at last to the reality that they may face a large net migration, " he told MPs.
Mr Johnson and other MPs are urging ministers to remove student visa statistics from the government's overall net migration target.
In the year up to June 2010, net migration from nationals of countries outside the EU to the UK totalled 198, 000.
But Japan prefers immigrants who come and go to those who stick around, so its net migration figures are much worse.
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The coalition has pledged to cut net migration from the current level to "tens of thousands" by the end of the Parliament.
And there are warnings that any fall in net migration driven by lower student numbers could come at a "significant economic cost".
Last week the government confirmed that it was rejecting calls for overseas students to be removed from targets to cut net migration.
Official figures show that annual net migration to the UK in 2010 was 252, 000 - the highest calendar year figure on record.
Pressure group Migration Watch UK welcomed the overall drop in net migration.
The Lone Star state boasts four of the 10 metro areas with the largest net migration gains for the past two years.
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