Thread: A third of Mexicans would migrate to U.S.: survey

A third of Mexicans would migrate to U.S.: survey

Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:53pm EDT

Mexico (Reuters) - One in three Mexicans would migrate to the United States if they had the chance, and many would go illegally at a time of rising drug violence in Mexico, a survey released on Wednesday showed.

Even with the United States hit by its worst recession in decades, many Mexicans still try to cross into the United States illegally, some paying traffickers huge fees.

The survey by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based public opinion research organization, found that 57 percent of Mexicans believe those who move from Mexico to the United States enjoy a better life.

With drug violence becoming a scourge across Mexico, 81 percent of respondents said crime is a major problem and 73 percent said illegal drugs are a serious issue for their country.

Asked if they would like to move to the United States, 33 percent of those taking part in the survey said "yes" and 18 percent said they would move even without the necessary visas.

"People see the U.S. as a land of opportunity ... and they see a lot of problems in Mexico. They are worried about crime, about the economy, drugs and corruption," said Richard Wike, who worked on the nationwide face-to-face survey of 1,000 Mexicans conducted between May 26 and June 2.

The survey has a margin of error of 3 percentage points, the Pew Research Center said.

Mexico's economy is closely tied to the United States and is going through its worst downturn since the 1930s. A drug war between rival cartels has killed 14,000 people since Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006.

Mexicans have a love-hate relationship with their northern neighbor, attracted by its higher wages and enamored of its shopping malls but still sore at the loss of nearly half their territory to the United States after a 19th century war.

Almost 40 percent of the survey's respondents said they had relatives or close friends in the United States.

Around 11.9 million illegal immigrants, mostly Hispanic, live and work in the United States, including millions of Mexicans. Americans are divided about how to handle them.

Many border experts say illegal immigration to the United States will rise again from historic lows this year as the U.S. economy recovers and businesses ranging from farms to factories seek to hire cheap labor.

U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to push comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but the issue has little lawmaker support as Americans lose jobs in the recession.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott, editing by Will Dunham)

http://www.reuters.com/article/domestic ... 4820090923

I think they meant to say that 1/3 of all Mexicans HAVE migrated to the U.S. and 1/3 would like to join them.

Good shot, JD2.
These people do not have the guts to start grassroots movements to help Calderon go up against the gangs. Some patriots they are. They just see nothing but freebies, especially when you drop the anchor babies, and since with the Aztlan crap, they think they are just dealing with another, very large Mexican state.
And gee, remittances home after being paid under the table, and a free flight back when you get caught, how bad can it be?

You are on the money. Your estimate is more realistic.

My thoughts exactly JD. I heard once the percentage that were here but forget however it is very high and obviously just keeps growing.

They are worried about crime, about the economy, drugs and corruption," said Richard Wike, who worked on the nationwide face-to-face survey of 1,000 Mexicans conducted between May 26 and June 2.

Uh-huh...so are we, and since we now house at least ten percent of mexico's population our crime has gotten worse.

75 pct of Mexicans unhappy with their country

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET, The Associated Press
3:51 p.m. September 23, 2009

MEXICO CITY — Mexicans are overwhelmingly unhappy with the direction of their country, and one in three would immigrate to the United States if they could, a Pew Research Center survey said Wednesday.

Of those in the poll who said they would like to migrate, more than half said they would be willing to do so illegally.

The poll of 1,000 people in Mexico found crime, government corruption and illegal drugs are major problems.

Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed said they are unhappy about Mexico's direction. Nearly all of those polled – 94 percent – said corrupt political leaders are a big problem.

Still, 68 percent held favorable opinions of President Felipe Calderon, 83 percent said they supported using the Mexican army to fight drug traffickers and 76 percent approved of the government's handling of the spring swine flu outbreak.

The survey revealed the close ties between Mexico and the U.S., with 39 percent of those interviewed saying they have friends or relatives north of the border. Nearly 20 percent said they receive money from relatives living in another country.

More than half of the respondents said people who moved north to the U.S. have better lives now.

But many immigrants are losing their jobs and facing significant financial problems in the U.S. because of the recession, said Rene Magana, president of the Chicago office of the International Coalition of Mexicans Abroad.

"The American Dream is a fallacy," he said.

The survey buttressed that argument. Forty percent of those interviewed said they know someone who had returned to Mexico because they could not find work in the U.S. Almost 50 percent said they know someone who came back after being detained by immigration officers at the border.

The survey, part of the Pew Global Attitudes Project, was based on face-to-face interviews in Mexico from May 26 to June 2. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=171053

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-4533--0-0.html

So where are the reports of Mexicans protesting in the streets? Where are they demanding their civil rights? Where are they demanding more social services?

ONLY HERE IN THE USA! They are so afraid on their government and even their own people that they cower. Those that come here illegally then do the strangest things. They profess how great Mexico is! They become brave activists and march in our streets demanding those things they so cowardly will not demand of the Mexican government.

Then worst of all, Bleeding Heart Americans forget how our ancestors fought and died to gain these same things. These Bleeding Hearts would disgrace our ancestors and reward these cowards!

They think the stupid gringos will pay their way, that is why they come here. We give them everything they need for free. If they have to pay for something they just extract from another part of our government hand-out system. They come here for the FREEBIES. The ones you and I can't get.