Money sent home by Latin American migrant workers in the US grew last year at their slowest rate in a decade, a result of the US economic slowdown and the crackdown against illegal migration, combined with the strength of the Brazilian economy.

A report to be published on Tuesday by the Inter-American Development Bank shows that migrant workers from Latin America around the world sent home $66.5bn (€43.3bn, £33bn) in 2007, 7 per cent more than in 2006 and more than Latin America received from net direct foreign investment and official development assistance.