mexicsan-to-usa-migration-(美墨移民)

TomBill(a)EconomicmigrantswantedtomovetoUSAduetothebetterworkingconditionsandhigherwagespaidintheU.S.TheworkingconditioninMexicowasrelativelydangerousandhard,andemployeeswerenotabletogainhighpaidjobsinMexicosotheythrivedtomigrateintoUSAforabetterprospect.(b)Non-economicmigrantsfocusedmainlyonfamilyunification.PoorqualityoflifeandlackofinfrastructureandwelfaresinMexicowerethemostseriouspushfactorsforpeopletoconsiderleaving.TheBraceroprogramwasaseriesoflawsanddiplomaticagreements,initiatedin1942whichexchangefortemporaryMexicanworkersfromMexicototheUnitedStatesinordertomeettheproblemoflaborshortageinUSA.TheprogramsoonspreadtocovermostoftheUnitedStatesandprovidedworkersmainlyfortheagriculturallabormarket.MexicanworkersthrivedtomigratetoUSAforbetterworkingconditionsandhigherpays.However,thisstereotypedoesnotholdtrueinsomewhichcauseshighlevelofdissatisfactionofMexicanworkersandtheyconstantlystriked.SimultaneouslythelargeamountofunskilledMexicanworkersspreadoutinUSAquicklywhichthreatenedthemoreskilledlocalworkers.ThelowwagespaidtotheMexicanworkersencouragedtheAmericanemployerstoemploysomeillegalworkersthereforeencouragetheillegalmigration.TheaveragewageintheU.Swasholdingdownanditseemedthattheprogramwasnolongerhelpful,instead,itwasvulnerabletothestabilityofthesocietyinUS(crimerateandunemploymentrosequickly)andthelabormarketinMexican(largelossoflabors).Thebraceroprogramwasthereforeendedin1964.InMexico,amaquiladoraisamanufacturingoperationinafreetradezone,wherefactoriesimportmaterialandequipmentonatariff-freebasisformanufacturingandthenexportthemanufacturedproducts.ItbecameveryattractivetotheUSfirmsagainduetotheavailabilityofcheaplabor,andthemaquiladoraprogramsolvedtheunemploymentproblemalongtheborderandeventuallybecameanimportantindustry.However,thisprogramwasfacingsomegreatcompetitionmainlycomefromthecheaplaborinIndia,VietnamandMalaysia,anditonlysolvedthereturningbraceroproblemtoacertainexternasmanyofthejobsinthefactorieswenttoyoungwomen.Ontheotherhand,thisprogramhasbroughtalotofproblems,themostseriousoneasIconsideredwastheenvironmentalproblem--mostAmericanfirmsrefusedtotransportthelargeamountofwasteproducedbacktotheU.S,theyavoidedpayingdisposalcostsbydumpingtoxinsandotherwasteintoMexico’sriversordesertsdirectly.Intheearly1980stherewasaconsiderableincreaseinillegalmigrationacrosstheborder.AtthistimetherewerenopenaltiesplacedonAmericanemployerswhohiredillegalworkerscomingfromMexico.MexicanworkersspreadoutquicklyintheU.Sandtheywereemployedmainlyinconstruction,manufacturingindustries,agricultureandsomelow-paidservicesjobs.ToagainstillegalworkerstheU.SCongresspassedtheImmigrationReformandControlActof1986.ThisimposedpenaltiesonAmericanemployerswhohiredillegalworkersandaimedtodiscourageMexicansfromillegalentry.However,theActalsolegalized2.7millionunauthorizedforeignersand85percentofthemwereMexican.ThelegalizationsubstantiallyexpandednetworklinksbetweenMexicanworkersandUSemployers.ThereisaverystrongconcentrationoftheUSMexicanpopulationinthefourstatesalongtheMexicanborder--Texas,NewMexico,CaliforniaandArizona.OthersareconcentratedintheotherwesternstatesincludingWashingtonandColorado.ThemainreasonsforthatarethosestatesarequiteclosetotheMexicanborder,andthedemandforimmigrantfarmworkerswasrelativelyhighinthesestates.Inaddition,MexicancommunityislongestablishedintheseurbanareasandtheMexicanculturehasaffectedtheseareasalotwhichprovidedsomesimilaritiestothosenewMexicanimmigrantstoconsiderabout.TheworkingandlivingconditionisimprovingsteadilyinMexico,leavinglesssignificantdifferencebetweenAmerica.Mexico’slaborsupply,wagelevelandtotalfertilitylevelisnowclosertotheUSrate.AlsonowthedifficultiesformigrantstofindajobintheUSAhaslargelyincreased.BothpushandpullfactorsdiminishedUnderminetheemploymentopportunitiesoflow-skilledUSworkers.(SincetheUSAisfacingmassiveunemploymentandbadjobsituationafterthefinancialcrisis.)HavenegativeenvironmentaleffectsThreatenestablishedUSculturalvaluesUnfairforlocaltaxpayerstocoverthenewmigrants’education,medicalcare,detentionandothercosts.Amigrantcultureisestablishedinsomeplacesdueto:EconomicsurvivalRiteofpassageforyoungmaleadultsThegrowingtasteforconsumergoodsandmodernstylesoflivingTheenhancedstatusenjoyedbymigrantsinthehomecommunityThehighvalueofremittancesReducedunemploymentpressureLowerpressureonhousingandpublicservicesChangesinthepopulationstructure(significantlossofyoungmales)LossofskilledandenterprisingpeopleBringbackchangedvaluesandattitudes