For several decades, the migratory flow from Central America to the United States has grown strongly. In contrast to weak economies and fragile governments, the United States offers security that no one but one of the world's strongest powers could offer.
The North American giant established itself as one of the world's leading producing countries, and its currency, the U.S. dollar, is one of the strongest in circulation.
Because of all this, many migrants have chosen the United States as their favorite destination to seek some financial and social stability. Among them, Mexico represents the largest immigrant population settled in United States territory.
Why do Mexicans immigrate to the United States?
Immigration is a phenomenon that occurs all over the world, and that, over the centuries, responded to different motives and processes. Wars, famines, political and religious persecution are some of the reasons that mobilized many communities to seek new horizons abroad.
Mexican migration is no stranger to this. Given the geographical proximity to the United States, the Mexican migratory trend has been established mainly towards its neighbor to the north. But in addition, many citizens from other Latin American nations also travel from Mexico who seek a better life in the country of the American dream.
Among the motivations of these migrants is the attractiveness of a salary in dollars and a stable economy, together with security and a higher quality of life. Fortunately, there are some measures that allow Mexicans to settle in the United States legally, either for a period or forever.
How many Mexicans immigrate to the United States?
In the United States there is a large Mexican community, and according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018, some 36 million people of Mexican ethnic origin were registered in the United States, although it is not clear what percentage they are immigrants and in what percentage they are children of immigrants.
The authors Ruiz Soto and Seele (2019) found that between 2000 and 2017, the number of Mexican migrants over 25 years of age and with a university degree increased from 269,000 to 678,000.
For its part, the Statista Research Department website published a graph that shows the percentage distribution of Mexican immigrants by country of destination in 2022. The result was that a 77.2% of Mexican immigrants chose to go to the United States, specifically, the figure is about 619,853 in total.
The states with the highest concentration of Mexican populations are the south-western states, especially in California and Texas.
Causes why Mexicans immigrate to the United States
One of the main reasons why many Mexicans choose to immigrate to the United States has to do with the prospect of their economic and professional development. The United States has one of the strongest economies in the West, making it the biggest attraction for precarious workers around the world.
Compared to other countries, the United States is one of the most viable options for those workers with a high education or specialization, as well as for workers who have some of the most sought after skills in the workplace.
In addition, Mexicans can access temporary work visas, in sectors such as construction, agriculture and livestock. This option allows people to obtain a legal stay for a certain period of time while saving in dollars and financially supporting their families.
What do Mexicans who immigrate to the United States do for work?
Mexican migrants stand out in the United States, mainly in the field of construction, agriculture and services, among others. The choice of profession depends a lot on the level of education that the person has acquired throughout their life.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, migrants represent the 25% of the country's agricultural workforce. The same percentage represents the migrant labor force within construction. It is followed by occupations such as cleaning and restoration services, manufacturing, production and transportation.
Finally, in recent years there has been an increase in the population of Mexican immigrants with higher education, who managed to occupy positions in areas such as health and engineering.
