Migration - Mexico to USA

• Mexicans make up 29.5 % of all foreigners in the USA
• Mexican immigrants account for about 20% of the legal immigrants living in the USA
• Brain drain is occurring out of Mexico
• Brain drain from Mexico

  • An estimated 14,000 of the 19,000 Mexicans with doctorates live in the USA
• Push factors from Mexico (Santa Ines) (2010)

  • Poor medical facilities - 1800 per doctor
  • Low paid jobs - GDP per capita $14,406
  • Adult literacy rates 55% - poor education prospects
  • Life expectancy 72 yrs
  • 40% Unemployed
  • Unhappy life – poor standard of living
  • Shortage of food
  • Poor farming conditions
  • National average poverty level of 37 percent
• Pull Factors – Reasons Mexicans are attracted to the USA (2010)

  • Excellent medical facilities - 400 per doctor
  • Well paid jobs - GDP per capita $46,860
  • Adult literacy rates 99% - good education prospects
  • Life expectancy 76 yrs
  • Many jobs available for low paid workers such as Mexicans
  • Better housing
  • Family links
  • Bright lights
• Effects on USA

  • Illegal migration costs the USA millions of dollars for border patrols and prisons
  • Mexicans are seen as a drain on the USA economy
  • Migrant workers keep wages low which affects Americans
  • They cause problems in cities due cultural and racial issues
  • Mexican migrants benefit the US economy by working for low wage
• Mexican culture has enriched the US border states with food, language and music
• The incidents of TB has been increasing greatly due to the increased migration
• Effects on Mexico (Santa Ines)

  • The Mexican countryside has a shortage of economically active people
  • Many men emigrate leaving a majority of women
  • Women may have trouble finding marriage partners
  • Young people tend to migrate leaving the old and the very young
  • Legal and illegal immigrants together send some $6 billion a year back to Mexico
  • Certain villages such as Santa Ines have lost 2/3 of its inhabitants