Why is immigration into the U.S from Mexico increasing now?

Question

I recently read a few months ago in USA Today that Mexico's economy is doing the best it's ever been. That country's middle class is growing, wages are up, sales of electronics are increasing, etc.. However, the U.S. economy is in very bad shape. SO if the economy of Mexico is getting better, and that of the U.S. is getting worse; then why are more people than ever moving into the U.S. from MExico?

Thanks for your input!

Answer 1

Last I heard, it is not.   Within the last year or so, ,illegal immigratin has dropped due partly because our crack down .   If your talking about the last several years, there are many reasons.  Mexico is encouraging illegal immigration, and disruption in Mexico's economy by NAFTA has hurt certain sectors.  There is a huge increase in factory jobs, but vertain farms has close down.   My guess is that farm workers do not want to learn new skills and rather move up here.   Bush also neglected in preventing illegal immigration.  My theory is to replace workers lost due to the war and help certain industries expand.

Answer 2

No, actually the number of illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico into the US is on the decline. Due to tighter border security, more ICE raids of employers and the closing of certain loopholes which previously allowed people that were on a temporary visa to get a SSN and a drivers license.

The US wants and needs immigrants to do menial jobs, work in agriculture and service industries. Yes, we could probably find enough Americans to work in fast food, agriculture, construction etc. BUT companies would have to pay a LOT more to the workers. Imagine a fast food worker gets about $7.00 an hour on average...What if there were no immigrants, legal or illegal to fill those jobs? OK, Americans would do those jobs, for about $14.00 per hour. Imagine paying $8 for a Big Mac...Oh, nobody wants to right? So, next time you pay some of the lowest prices in the world (even with inflation food in America is still some of the cheapest in the world) be thankful that somebody came from another country to plant those seeds, harvest, produce, manufacture, prepare, cook, and serve that food to you as well as wash your dirty dishes when you're done. You think food is expensive at the supermarket right now? It's just going to get higher and as the US deports more of the migrant workforce, the price of foodstuffs will also increase. Right now, many farmers are having to let food rote in the field because there's not enough workers to harvest it. Create a guest worker program and that will fix many of the problems.

To the poster that said migrants go to the US for "welfare". What are you talking about? Do you even know how the welfare system works? First, you have to document that you are legally in the US. In most states, cash payments aren't even made to healthy, able-bodied adults. The most a person without kids can usually get is a measly $140 or so in food stamps per month. Hardly worth crossing the border for. Let's face reality: Most of the people on welfare are single, unwed moms with kids from multiple dads. Many of them are second or even third generation welfare moms. Most of them were born right in the US. It's because of lazy and irresponsible Americans, that the US still has plenty of people on the welfare dole. Those are the ones that won't work and won't contribute to society. I have 10 times more respect for an illegal that goes to the US, often doesn't have friends or family, doesn't speak English, yet they still manage to find a job, work hard, save money for their families and they don't complain.

NAFTA has also helped, not hurt Mexico overall. It has raised the standard of living for most of the people, but not all. Many of the people working in inefficient farms have been displaced my cheaper, subsidized, US mega-agriculture. While the prices of food have come down for the most part in Mexico, it's the rural poor who are feeling the most economic pressure. While at the same time, Mexico City is no longer able to absorb as many people as before. These people continue to migrate north in search of work. Many people find work in the Mexican border cities such as Cd. Juarez, Monterrey, Tijuana etc. Others choose to continue to the US in search of the "Sueno Americano".

BTW the Mexican government has been running a series of ads on the radio and TV showing people the dangers of crossing illegally and urging them to stay home in Mexico.

Answer 3

Mexico's economy is up, but the Mexican Government wants to get rid of the poor of Mexico who need menial jobs.  Currently our Congress refuses to deal with the issue.. they have made up their minds, and the Mexicans believe their will be another amnesty.  They want to be here when that happens.

And while other tell us the wages in Mexico are not very good, the Mexican People tell us it is.  A house costing some 200,000 in the United States goes for less than 20,000 in Mexico.  Dental care is 1/10th the cost and as good.  On and on.  

Mexico, by the way, is pulling people out of Guatemala to pick their crops.

Answer 4

We're still MUCH better off than they are.

Answer 5

Because here in America are prisons systems are a lot better than Mexico we give cable to inmates.....not to mention we have welfare that gives free money....now wouldn't you come here if you know we gave free money away to people who didn't deserve it???

Answer 6

800 pesos weekly salary(assignment), 600 pesos by hour

beef 120 pesos a kilo, chicken 80 pesos a kilo

do you think people could survive with this salary?

Answer 7

because no matter how good the economy in mexico gets, America's will always be better ( even when its declining).

Answer 8

because "some foreigners" are terrorizing and spreading violence in Mexico! ( probably is a red communist drug trafficker devil  who is doin' that) http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

so, Mexicans need to get out from Mexico and come to USA

welcome paisanos!