Mexico/US Migration

Question 1

Who makes up 1/4 of all immigrants to the US?

Answer 1

• Mexico
• world’s largest international migration flow (up to 400,000/year)
• pace of migration up dramatically since 1980s Mexican economic crisis (devaluation of the peso)

Question 2

What are some major reasons for migration? (Mexico to the US)

Answer 2

• filling a labor gap/ recruited
• wage and employment differentials (current/future earnings)
• demographic composition of Mexican population
• facilitators: small geographic distance and social/family and economic ties
• history of ties to region

Question 3

Does Migration incline or decline with the economic slump?

Answer 3

Migration DECLINES with the economic slump

• Migration corresponds to our hiring needs
• -eg decline in undocumented migration from 2007 to 2009

Question 4

What states did we gain during the Mexican-American War in 1846?

Answer 4

• California
• Nevada
• Utah
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Texas
• Colorado (gained more territory)

Question 5

What are the 6 Eras of Mexican Migration?

Answer 5

1. Recruitment 1907-1919
2. Floodtide 1920-1929
3. Deportations 1930-1941
4. Bracero 1942-1964
5. Undocumented 1965-1985
6. Contradiction 1986-2007

Question 6

Mexico makes ______ % of current undocumented migrants

Answer 6

Mexico makes up 57% of current undocumented migrants.

Question 7

What are two critical dates in the New Era of Contradiction?

Answer 7

1986:
-under pressure from US Mexico joins GATT
-US Congress passes IRCA
1994:
-Mexico and US join together in NAFTA
-US launches operation gatekeeper in San Diego

Question 8

What are some effects of borders?

Answer 8

It also keeps people IN —> increasing numbers of migrants

• public anti immigration attitudes
• multicultural America

Question 9

Massey’s “Perverse Laws of International Migration”

Answer 9

1. Immigration is a lot easier to start than it is to stop
2. Actions taken to restrict immigration often have the opposite effect
3. the fundamental cause of immigration may be outside the control of policy makers
4. Immigrants understand immigration better than politicians and academicians
5. Because they understand immigration better than policy makers, immigrants are often able to circumvent policies aimed at stopping them

Question 10

What does the new bi-partisan legislation entail? (APRIL 2013)

Answer 10

• more border enforcement
• W-visa
• E-verify bio metric database, employer responsibility
• path to citizenship for 11M undocumented (fines, back taxes, fee, 10-13 years)