Emigration from Mexico

Emigration from Mexico is when people move from Mexico to live in other countries. Over time, more and more people from Mexico have chosen to move to places like the United States and other parts of the world. This movement of people has grown a lot over the years, changing both Mexico and the countries where they move to. Many reasons cause people to leave Mexico, such as looking for better jobs, safety, or new opportunities. The story of Mexican emigration is important because it shapes communities, cultures, and economies in many places around the world.

Overview

The United Nations counted Mexico as one of the top ten places where people move away from between 1970 and 1995. Most people from Mexico move to the United States, far more than any other country. In fact, the United States had over 150 times more immigrants from Mexico than the next most popular country, Canada. People move away from Mexico for many reasons, like finding jobs or wanting a better life for their families in the United States. Rules and programs in the United States, such as the U.S. Immigration Act of 1996, have changed how and why people move. Even though some people also move to Canada or Spain, the United States remains the main destination. In recent years, from 2013 to 2018, more Mexicans moved to the United States than left.

Destinations

Many people from Mexico move to other countries to live. The most popular place for them is the United States, where lots of Mexican families have settled. Other countries where Mexicans live include Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. Some also live in Central and South American countries like Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

There are smaller groups of Mexicans in places such as Japan, Taiwan, and even in African nations like Kenya and South Africa. Canada has special programs that let Mexican workers help with farming for a little while. Many Mexicans also go to study or work in science and other fields around the world.

Estimates by country

The list below shows how many people with Mexican background live in different countries.

1. United States – 37,991,500 (2023)
2.  Canada – 155,380 (2021)
3.  Spain – 53,158
4.  Guatemala – 18,003
5.  Germany – 16,892
6.  Australia – 7,420
7.  New Zealand – 1,425
8.  Portugal – 863
9.  Philippines – 377
10.  Vietnam – 95
11.  Jamaica – 146
12.  Cambodia – 19
13.  Barbados – 14
14.  Ghana – 24
15.  Tanzania – 24
16.  Egypt – 179
17.  Bulgaria – 15
18.  Mozambique – 37
19.  Madagascar – 3
20.  Angola – 60
21.  Laos – 4
22.  Dominica – 3
23.  Croatia – 46
24.  Bulgaria –15
25.  Haiti – 168
26.  Venezuela - 315
27.  Nicaragua - 235
28.  South Korea - 842
29.  Thailand - 348
30.  Malaysia - 144
31.  Romania - 224
32.  Poland - 625
33.  Ukraine - 100
34.  Greece - 880
35.  Lithuania - 68
36.  Finland - 886
37.  South Africa- 374
38.  Hungary - 674
39.  Turkey - 546
40.  Serbia - 106
41.  Russia - 348
42.  Poland - 625
43.  Iceland - 154
44.  Cyprus - 41
45.  Trinidad and Tobago - 87
46.  Taiwan - 259

Migrants

Many people from Mexico move to live in America, making Mexicans the largest group of immigrants there. But recently, fewer people from Mexico are coming to the U.S. Most of these immigrants come from nine states: Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Chiapas and Jalisco. In these areas, it's common to find towns where many men have gone to the U.S. to find jobs, leaving women to care for their children. The men often send money to their families, which is very important for Mexico's economy.

People leave Mexico for many reasons, including looking for better jobs and safer lives. Some leave because of unsafe conditions and threats they face in their home country. Others hope to find better opportunities not just for work, but also for their families and communities.

History

After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, many Mexicans living in areas that became part of the United States stayed there. For much of the 1800s and early 1900s, Mexicans could move freely across the border to find work, often in farming or building.

The chaos of the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1920 also pushed many people to move north. They sought better jobs and living conditions. Over time, economic challenges in Mexico continued to influence people to move to the United States.

U.S. immigration laws sometimes included special rules for Mexican workers because their labor was important, especially in farming. For example, some rules that applied to other immigrants were not enforced for Mexicans.

In recent years, the number of people moving from Mexico to the U.S. has slowed. Some people are even moving back to Mexico. From 2012 to 2016, many Mexican immigrants lived in California and Texas, especially in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.

Effects of governmental policies on Mexican immigration in the U.S.

The Great Depression in 1929 led to strict rules that forced many Mexican workers and their families to leave the U.S. and return to Mexico. This caused a big drop in people coming from Mexico for many years.

Later, during World War II, the U.S. needed more workers, so in 1942, the U.S. and Mexico started the Bracero program. This program let millions of Mexican workers help with farming in the U.S. They were promised fair pay and housing. The program was meant to be temporary while many Americans were away fighting in the war. Because of this program, many Mexican workers came to the U.S. for jobs, and it helped shape future labor programs. However, these workers often faced hard conditions and unfair treatment.

Historical border issues

In 1954, the United States started a program called Operation Wetback to send Mexicans who were living in the country without permission back to Mexico. This happened because many people from Mexico were moving into the United States. Some children who were born in the United States were sent away with their parents, which caused concern.

Even after a program that brought Mexican workers to the United States ended in 1964, many people still moved north. Rules about who could get a visa to live in the United States changed over time. In 1965, the United States stopped using a system that limited how many people could come from certain places. Instead, they set a total number of visas for people from countries in the Western Hemisphere, but this number was still too small for the many people who wanted to come from Mexico.

When many workers in northern Mexico lost their jobs, new factories called maquiladoras were created to give people work. These factories made goods that were sent to the United States, and they helped both countries. More and more factories opened, creating jobs and drawing people to live near the border. Many of these people then wanted to move even closer to the United States because life there seemed better.

Later rules tried to control how many people could move to the United States each year, but many still tried to come without permission. In 1986, new laws were made to give some people who were already living in the United States without permission a way to stay legally, and to punish people who hired others without permission. However, many people still tried to cross the border.

Reversal of net migration between Mexico and the U.S.

Pew Research Center found that from 2005 to 2010, about the same number of people moved between Mexico and the United States in both directions. From 2009 to 2014, about 130,000 more people moved to Mexico than to the U.S. But from 2013 to 2018, the trend changed again, with about 160,000 more people moving to the U.S. than to Mexico.

Several reasons explain this change. Fewer young people in Mexico mean less migration to the U.S. The Great Recession reduced job opportunities in the U.S., making it harder for migrants to find work. Mexico’s economy improved, offering better healthcare, education, and jobs, reducing the need to leave. Since 2010, the U.S. has tightened rules on immigration, making it harder for people to stay. Some areas of Mexico also became more dangerous due to crime.