Thread: NYT: Mexican government stats indicate emigration declines

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15immig.html?hp

By JULIA PRESTON
Published: May 14, 2009

MEXICALI, Mexico — Census data from the Mexican government indicate an extraordinary decline in the number of Mexican immigrants going to the United States.

The recently released data show that about 226,000 fewer people emigrated from Mexico to other countries during the year that ended in August 2008 than during the previous year, a decline of 25 percent. All but a very small fraction of emigration, both legal and illegal, from Mexico is to the United States.

Because of surging immigration, the Mexican-born population in the United States has grown steeply year after year since the early 1990s, dipping briefly only after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, census data in both countries show.

Mexican and American researchers say that the current decline, which has also been manifested in a decrease in arrests along the border, is largely a result of Mexicans’ deciding to delay illegal crossings because of the lack of jobs in the ailing American economy.

The trend emerged clearly with the onset of the recession and, demographers say, provides new evidence that illegal immigrants from Mexico, by far the biggest source of unauthorized migration to the United States, are drawn by jobs and respond to a sinking labor market by staying away.

“If jobs are available, people come,â€

They reported that Mexicans’ relatives in the United States, struggling to hold on to their own jobs, no longer had money to lend to a family member to pay a smuggler.

I see the problem as that Mexicans here instead of financing job creation in Mexico are bringing illegal aliens here.

More proof they will self deport or not come, if you enforce the law.

If you take away the jobs, they will stay out of the country.

Dixie

It has been the norm for so long that our country is a release valve for the poor working conditions and/or opportunities in Mexico.

It's as if our country is the problem but what about criticizing Mexico's government?

Where are our leaders and media regarding that?

Mexico needs to address their economic problems seriously and they would have to if their people weren't allowed into our country illegally.

Until then our country and Mexico are not doing what is needed for the people of Mexico.

Mexican and American researchers say that the current decline, which has also been manifested in a decrease in arrests along the border, is largely a result of Mexicans’ deciding to delay illegal crossings because of the lack of jobs in the ailing American economy.

I hope this temporary lull doesn't influence some members of our cause to abandon ship or lessen the importance of the issue in their eyes. We must stay vigilant, regardless of what the media spits out.

The recently released data show that about 226,000 fewer people emigrated from Mexico to other countries during the year that ended in August 2008 than during the previous year, a decline of 25 percent.

I'd like to know how this information is arrived at and where it comes from. Whenever the media starts quoting numbers and percentages, I get nervous. IMO, the media is eager to release such numbers when the numbers and percentages suit their own agenda, however, when the numbers and percentaged don't fit their agenda........... Well, you know what I'm thinking.

Still, at least 11 million illegal immigrants remain in the United States, the demographers say.

Dream on.

I'd put the number somewhere between 20-30 million (at least 20 million).