Abstract
Today, the US - Mexico migration is the biggest migration flow in the world and Mexicans are the biggest group amongst immigrants in the US. [...]
However, believing that the current immigration issue stems exclusively from the migration of Mexican citizens to the US would be a profound mistake. The current bone of contention is the product of a complex set of factors, such as both countries' economies, demographics, and labour markets.
Conversely, Mexican immigration also represents a unique opportunity for the US economy to recover faster, on the back of a high volume of low-skilled workers.
Extract
[...] Looking forward: have both countries learned their lessons from the past? In the report we have mentioned above already, prepared in anticipation of the meeting between President Fox of Mexico and President Bush of the US in February 2001, authors quote: "The basis for a great bargain is the shared belief that migration from Mexico to the United States should be mutually beneficial; safe, legal, orderly, and predictable; and that, over the long term, it should naturally decrease and stabilize at moderate levels." (Mexico-US Migration: A Shared Responsibility, The US-Mexico Migration Panel, 2001). [...]
[...] Let's first have a brief look at the historic relationship between both countries. We will then explain what is at stake currently for their bilateral relations, related to immigration. Finally, we will attempt to understand what lies ahead in terms of immigration policies and long-term outlook on both countries' economies, demography and societal / political panorama. A brief historic overview of bilateral migration between the US and Mexico Given its history and geography, Mexico has acquired a unique status regarding the US foreign policy, more specifically a unique status in the American immigration system. [...]
[...] Immigration is the current and historical bone of contention between the United States and Mexico, straining their bilateral relationship mostly in the past decades. But finding ways to foster economic and demographic development while respecting human rights is crucial for both countries. It is of the uttermost importance that both countries explore ways to collaborate in creating a legal and economic framework fostering a healthy migration flow at the border, and a stable and promising condition for those who have migrated. [...]
[...] However, the truth is that the Mexican government lacks resources to manage the increasing flow of migrants crossing the country to reach the US, nor it has been consistent in applying a policy to take care and treat potential outflows. The issue today is deeper than it seems: what Mexico is really struggling with is effectively balancing its own commitment to respecting migrant's human rights and their willingness to not interfere in foreign countries affairs. This results in a situation where large volumes of migrants are "freely" crossing the US-Mexico border while undocumented. [...]
[...] This would be the very first official meeting between both countries since the President Trump threatened to increase tariffs on products crossing the border with Mexico if the latter could not provide evidence of reinforced efforts in curbing migration. It is safe to say that today, migratory issues are dealt with carrots and sticks at the economic level. The crisis rose this past May when more conservatism at the US-Mexico border reached their highest level in over a decade. Around that period, more than 130,000 individuals globally and mostly Mexico and rest of Central America, showed up at the border as families seeking asylum mainly. [...]
