Report: Undocumented immigration from Mexico reaches lowest level ...

The prevailing belief among most people seems to be that illegal immigration (employment-related immigration and family immigration) from Mexico to the U.S. is virtually unchecked and now approaching record levels. However, it turns out that this belief may be entirely unfounded.

According to various sources, the tide of undocumented immigrants crossing the border into the U.S. has receded considerably over the past several years, with more Mexicans choosing to remain in their home country or even return home from the United States.

To illustrate, the most recent Mexican census revealed that there were 4 million more people in the country than originally anticipated, a phenomenon that clearly caught government officials there by surprise.

In addition, U.S. census figures - as analyzed by the Pew Hispanic Center - reveal that the number of new undocumented immigrants traveling from Mexico to the U.S. has declined considerably, with less than 100,000 making the journey in 2010.

"No one wants to hear it, but the flow has already stopped," said Douglas Massey, the director of Princeton University's Mexican Migration Project. "For the first time in 60 years, the net traffic has gone to zero and is probably a little bit negative."

Why then has undocumented immigration from Mexico to the U.S. declined so much over the past few years?

Experts have identified three primary causes:

• First, the average size of Mexican families has shrunk considerably, as the birth rate has declined from 6.8 children per woman in 1970 to roughly 2 children per woman in 2011.
• Second, employment and educational opportunities have exploded since 2000, creating a robust economy. According to economist Robert Newell, both per capita gross domestic product and family income have climbed by more than 45 percent over the last 10 years.
• Third, crossing the border illegally has become a much more dangerous proposition as drug cartels have claimed this area as their turf.

It is also worth noting that legal immigration to the U.S. from Mexico has risen over the last few years as State Department officials have attempted to make the process easier in an attempt to discourage illegal immigration.

Stay tuned for further updates from our Los Angeles County immigration law blog ...

If you would like to learn more about family immigration, immigration detention or citizenship, it is critical to speak with a legal professional who has extensive specialized knowledge and experience in immigration law.

This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Related Resources:

Mexican migration near zero (The Star Tribune)

Source: http://www.losangelesimmigrationlawattorney.com/2011/07/report-undocumented-immigration-from-mexico-reaches-lowest-level-in-60-years.shtml

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