According
to recent reports
(http://www.americasquarterly.org/content/dispatches-field-return-migration-mexico),
the net migration between the United States and Mexico is near zero,
with the number of Mexicans entering the U.S. matched by those
returning home. Mostly, these are voluntary returns; a Pew Hispanic
Center survey concluded that, between 2005 and 2010, only 5 to 35
percent of such returnees were forced to leave the U.S. In fact,
according to a survey by the organization, Mexicans and Americans
Thinking Together (MATT), many people return because of family
concerns or homesickness.
Those
who return to Mexico are typically young adults between 18 and 35
years, who have lived in the U.S. for five or more years
(http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/returnees-mexico-english-lucrative-skill).
Most are male with limited education
(http://www.americasquarterly.org/content/dispatches-field-return-migration-mexico).
About 40 percent wind up working in agriculture, even if they
previously held service or construction jobs in the U.S.
However,
for those with strong English skills, the employment picture is very
different. Bi-lingual, tech-savvy young people find jobs at higher
rates of pay than the average Mexican
(http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/returnees-mexico-english-lucrative-skill).
Many are employed in Mexico City or industrial centers in northern
or central Mexico, in manufacturing and service sectors, particularly
information technology (IT). Indeed, a typical job for a Mexican
returnee fluent in English involves working at one of the many call
centers that have opened in big cities like Monterrey. These
“maquiladoras” handle billing, service, and technical support for
U.S.-based companies that have out-sourced them to Mexico.
While
most call-center jobs pay well and only require English fluency and
some formal education
(http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/returnees-mexico-english-lucrative-skill),
the overall picture for employees is not all positive. Many see
their work as a stepping-stone to something better, or an opportunity
to socialize with others who are at the same life-stage
(http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/los-otros-other-dreamers-facebook/).
Most are eager to move on with their careers and lives in Mexico.
However,
those returning to Mexico from the U.S. face unique problems. For
example, the recently-arrived Nancy Landa found that an
identification card, required for work in Mexico, took over a month
to obtain; she also discovered no Mexican graduate school would
accept her U.S. college degree
(http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-c1-mexico-dreamers-20141104-story.html#page=1).
Raúl Iglesias was more fortunate. By moving to Mexico for his
senior year at a private high school, he was able to enter Mexico's
best public university without repeating high school
(http://www.americasquarterly.org/content/dispatches-field-return-migration-mexico).
Many
returnees run afoul of the Mexican Ministry of Education, which
routinely rejects U.S. documents, resulting in most age-eligible
youths not attending school
(http://www.americasquarterly.org/content/dispatches-field-return-migration-mexico).
Others, unable to obtain a birth certificate, are barred from
enrolling in Mexico's health program, Seguro Popular. But,
some government help is forthcoming with Mexico's recent announcement
of a Special Migration Program for returning migrants
(http://www.americasquarterly.org/content/dispatches-field-return-migration-mexico). While some changes are yet unimplemented, they include such
significant improvements as standardizing formats of birth
certificates, translating and registering U.S. education documents,
creating a job bank to match migrants with Mexican employers, and
even providing seed money for those wishing to start or expand a
business. With such ambitious programs, it is hoped that Mexican
returnees will be rapidly re-integrated into their nation's society.
Photos:
BBC
No comments:
Post a Comment