Trends in Migration Interrupted

Migration rates from the Mexico to the U.S. are at a standstill according to Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Eric Martin and Nacha Cattan write in their April 24 article for Bloomberg entitled "Calderon Says Mexico Reduced Net Migration to U.S. to Zero," (see http://tinyurl.com/czltpd4) that Latin America's second-largest economy boasts that improved education, employment, and healthcare opportunities have lead to fewer Mexicans migrating north to the United States. At a meeting in Washington, President Calderon attributed to these achievements to the overall results gained by both sides through the NAFTA agreement that was signed over 20 years ago. In addition, the president also made claims that the U.S.'s own tough stances on immigration have made the country a much less desired place to work and live for immigrants, illegal and legal ones. One area in particular, agriculture, has been hit hard by these policies and as a result has lost a significant portion of its competitive nature. 

These recent developments have produced a divergence from the trend of the last four decades, when over 12 million Mexicans migrated to the United States. Officials at Pew's Hispanic Center say out of the international economic crisis a weak job and housing market in the U.S. as well as lower birth rates in Mexico are prominent factors in this decline in migration. Along with this the U.S. has seen a decline in the number of undocumented Mexicans fall from 7million in 2007 to 6.1million in 2011. President Calderon maintains that these changes have resulted not only from Mexico's improvements in various sectors but also speaks to the health of its economy and country.

This article left me wondering whether this new divergence will continue to disrupt the migration trends and eventually become a new trend itself, and more importantly what impact that will have on the U.S. economy and society. And Mexicans continue to leave their homes and jobs in the United States for the "greener" pastures that President Calderon describes are evolving in his country, will the Mexican government be able to support and provide these programs for long term sustainability.While the President of Mexico seems to boast of the accomplishments that NAFTA and other economic improvements has spurred for Mexican society I truly wonder if their government is preparing themselves for the incoming force of "immigrants." Much like the U.S.'s experience and chief complaints about influxes of large immigrant populations is that they require and absorb many different resources. Restructuring and improving employment, education, and healthcare are only a few of many steps that will be required to provide for these influxes of people. Specifically my concerns are with the implications that this may have for the education system in Mexico. If Mexican families are to travel back to their homeland how will this interruption affect the schooling of their children. In recent years a lot of attention has been paid to immigrant students and their adaption to schooling in the U.S. context. I'm curious if similar situations will evolve if and when these American born children return with their parents to Mexico what problems they might incur with adjustment to the Mexican education system. In the end, I think that the Mexican government needs to realize the extent to which they will have to take these improvements that are alluring these populations back to Mexico and start preparing themselves for the incoming needs that these populations will bring with them.