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World Economy Cuts Mexican Migration by 50%

Fewer citizens are immigrating, but emigrants aren't returning

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 20, 2009 11:31 AM CST
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(Newser) – Who needs a border fence when you have a shaky economy? That seems to be the message of Mexico's latest migration numbers, which show net emigration down by more than half for the year that ended in August 2008, compared with the previous 12 months. And the cause isn't more Mexicans abroad returning home, a government statistician tells the AP.

"We have not detected, up to now, any increase in people returning to the country," he said. About 300,000 fewer people left Mexico last year than in 2007; most of the migrants are undocumented, and most head for the US. But with jobs north of the border harder to find, the move seems less promising. A US Immigration spokesman attributes the drop to increased enforcement.

Guillermo Ortiz, president of the Bank of Mexico, shows a graphic illustrating the decline in the Mexican gross domestic product from 2005 through expectations for 2009.
Guillermo Ortiz, president of the Bank of Mexico, shows a graphic illustrating the decline in the Mexican gross domestic product from 2005 through expectations for 2009.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe and a Mexican flag are seen inside a migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. Migration has dropped sharply since last year.
A statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe and a Mexican flag are seen inside a migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. Migration has dropped sharply since last year.   (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
A Mexican migrant rests after being rescued by the Grupo Beta, a Mexican federal migrant-protection unit, near Tecate, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.
A Mexican migrant rests after being rescued by the Grupo Beta, a Mexican federal migrant-protection unit, near Tecate, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
bacimom
Feb 23, 2009 12:09 AM CST
The immigration of low paid, poorly skilled labour from Mexico and Eastern Europe has not only taken some jobs from Americans (some we'd do, some not so much) but has lowered the wages of real craftsmen and artisans who are now trying to compete against lousy carpenters, painters and so called remodelers with no skills, no training, no insurance and no overhead. In Illinois we have no requirements for skilled trades other than electric, plumbing and HVAC. No matter what you tell a potential customer regarding the quality of work and the price of doing it right or doing it over, no one cares. They can always get someone to say they'll do the work at half whatever quoted. So they're going home, or not coming over from Mexico. So what, the damage is already done.
AdaptAndOvercome
Feb 20, 2009 8:46 PM CST
Well, maybe screwing up the economy was a part of Bush's Immigration Plan. Maybe that will be his legacy.
AdaptAndOvercome
Feb 20, 2009 8:44 PM CST
You're a jackass. NUKE MEXICO? That is hateful. You probably panic when you hear about Iran and the possibility of having nuclear missles that can attack us and yet you'd condone it with our neighbors have done absolutely nothing to you except want a job and to support their families and give them a roof over their head and food. Wouldn't you do the same for your family if need be or would you be like the Iraqi men who feed themselves first and let their women and children scrape up the left overs.

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US • World

 
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