Until 2002, Argentina was the sole Latin American nation which sent out more money than it received in remittances, according to Western Union, an international money transfer company.

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Western Union's money transfer business seems shrewdly geared to the 8.7 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. If they walk into a regular bank to wire money overseas, the fees will be lower, but the senders are asked for identification and personal details they don't want to provide.

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