MIGRATION:

USA AND MEXICO

CAUSES:
Push Factors (-)

Pull factors (+)

Poor medical facilities - 1800 per doctor

Job opportunities (Many jobs available for

low paid workers such as Mexicans)

Low paid jobs - (GNP = $3750)

Life expectancy 77 years

Adult literacy rates 55% - poor education

prospects

Excellent medical facilities - 400 per

doctor

Life expectancy 72 years

Well paid jobs - GNP = $24,750)

Poor education ( No secondary education)

Mexicos infrastructure is severely

undeveloped when compared to
Americas. Despite being the 11th richest
country in the World, Mexico also has the
10th highest poverty.

Unemployment and poverty is a major problem in

Mexico and has risen exponentially in recent years. In
2000, unemployment rates in Mexico were at 2.2,
however, in 2009, they rose by 34.43%, leaving them
standing at 5.37 in 2010.

Adult literacy rates 99% - good education

prospects

There are incredibly high crime rates in Mexico,

especially in the capital.

Better education opportunities. Higher

quality education

The climate and natural hazards (earthquakes

etc) in Mexico could force people to move to
America.
Poverty is a major issue in Mexico, with 6% of
the population lacking access to improved
drinking water.

MIGRATION: USA AND MEXICO

IMPACTS:
International migration case study Mexico-USA
Geographic
(socio-economic,
political and
environmental)
impacts of
international
migration
Social Impacts (-)

Origin
(Mexico)

Many men emigrate

leaving a majority of
women who have trouble
finding marriage partners.
This creates an
unbalanced population
pyramid
Families are split up as
often the males move to
USA for work. This puts
pressure on relationships
and creates tension
within families
Young people tend to
migrate leaving the old
and the very young
Certain villages such as
Santa Ines have lost 2/3
of its inhabitants

after the economic

crisis and the passing
of the Arizona Law,
neither has the return
of Mexican
immigrants to their
country of origin.

Destination
(U.S.A)

Segregated ethnic areas

are created
Racism, discrimination and
conflict can occur
Creation of ghettos and
ghettoized schools

MIGRATION: USA AND MEXICO

Social Impacts (+)

Economic Impacts
(-)

The average weekly

wage in parts of
Mexico is about 600
pesos, or $60. That's
about one-sixth of what
most immigrants can
make in the States. A
lot of which will be sent
back to Mexico as
remittances.
in recent years the
proportion of returning
immigrants with
higher education
levels has increased.
Remittances have
improved welfare and
education in Mexico

As the mexican
economic dependency
workers keep moving,
mexico will have a
shortage of
economically active
people. This is known
as a brain drain
500,000 Mexican
immigrants lost their
jobs during the crisis.
Loss of skilled
labourers deters
investment in the
country

Economic Impacts
(+)

Legal and illegal

immigrants together send
some $6 billion a year
back to Mexico

Remittances from
Mexicans in the US
have become one of

The creation of a
multiethnic society
increases understanding
and tolerance of other
cultures.
Mexicans can encourage
the learning of spanish,
helping people develop
skills for working
internationally
Growth in ethnic retailing.
Mexicans set up shops
and restaurants in the
USA. this helps Americans
learn and appreciate the
Mexican culture

Much of the money earned

by the migrants isnt spent
in the USA and is instead
sent back to Mexico. This
is called remittances
The average productivity
of a Mexican immigrant is
on average 21.5 percent
lower than the national
average., and 16.8
percent lower than the
average for all immigrants
in the U.S
lower participation rate in
government, information
services, finance,
insurance and real estate.
There is an overdependence of some
industries on migrant
labour, e.g. construction
industry
Mexican immigrants
contributes 4% to the total
GDP of the U.S
Mexican immigrants
represent nearly 60
percent of unauthorized
workers in the U.S.

MIGRATION: USA AND MEXICO

Mexico's most
important sources of
income - second only
to oil and surpassing
the traditional tourism
industry.

Reduced unemployment
in the country as there
are fewer people so there
are enough jobs to go
around
Returning migrants bring
back new skills to the
country

Political impacts ()

Created tensions for

the mexican
government (political
pressure)
less voters so there
might not be a majority
win.
Fewer economically
active so less tax
money is collected so
the Gov has less
money to spend on
essential services and
infrastructure

5 percent of Mexican
immigrants are engaged
in agriculture forestry and
fishing and contribute to
about 18 percent of U.S.
GDP in this sector.
Mexican immigrants
contribute 13.4 percent to
the construction sector's
output and about 11.7
percent to the
accommodation and food
services sector's output.
Illegal Mexican immigrants
have long met a significant
portion of the demand for
cheap labour in the United
States. The majority of the
employed men are
restaurant workers,
janitors, truck drivers,
gardeners, construction
labourers, material moving
workers, or perform other
types of manual or other
blue collar labour.
Created tensions for the
USA government (political
pressure).
The new political system
can affect the attitudes of
immigrants communities to
what goes on back in their
home country.
Mexican immigrants
represent nearly 60
percent of unauthorized
workers in the U.S.
Discrimination against
ethnic groups and
minorities which may lead
to civil unrest and
extremism
Illegal immigration is
commonplace so the Gov
is starting to make stricter
rules at the borders

MIGRATION: USA AND MEXICO

Political impacts
(+)

less people to convince

for different decisions
As there are less
people, more
Government money
can be spent on
essential services such
as schools and
healthcare

Environmental
impacts (-)

more immigrants will be to

able to vote for a more
diverse decision and
Mexicans might have more
influence on future policy
making

Due to the increasing

population, the burden and
stress on Americas global
environmental systems
increases.
Greater demand of water
supplies and other
resources.
The expansion of landfill
sites as more waste is
being produced
Deforestation for roads,
increase pressure on
housing.

Environmental
impacts (+)

Less pressure on the

natural environment
because of fewer
people.
less people equals less
pollution

An estimated more than

2,000 tons of trash is
discarded annually in
Arizona's borderlands.
mass illegal immigration
is a likely contributing
factor in the dramatic 79
percent decline in the
U.S. Sonoran pronghorn
population between
2000 and 2002.
An estimated more than
2,000 tons of trash is
discarded annually in
Arizona's borderlands

MIGRATION: USA AND MEXICO