Mexico’s transformation on migration affairs

Day by day the news, social networks, radio, journals and political leaders immerse us on immigration issues. My inquiry here is, what is really migration? Many will answer that it is the first step of the composition of countries and states since the beginning of time, many others will say that it is a purely economic and cultural phenomena and others will even say that it is the greatest evil that afflicts the great world powers. When we hear about migration, we often forget that it is, first and foremost, a completely normal human activity. Since the beginning of time, people have migrated in search of a better life, but we already know that by heart.

During the last decades, the whole world has witnessed a migratory crisis that has worsened with the change of time and it seems that there is no room for improvement. Hundreds of years ago, the human being migrated in search of food, water and subsequently for a place to settle. What motivates the human being to migrate today? Well, the causes mainly move from the pursuit of a better economic situation, to the outbreak of wars and perpetual insecurity, the rise of governments with distinctive political leanings and nowadays even climate change.

The American continent is the focal point of one of the largest exoduses in history. It is no coincidence that it also has such a large inequality gap between and within the countries that comprise it. The United States and Canada are seen as the spoiled ones within a family where the rest of its members overflow with high levels of extreme poverty, insecurity and corruption. As this is the case, millions of people year after year leave their countries to enter one of the two “star countries”, in search of the “American/Canadian dream”.

Within America, most people migrate for economic reasons to the north of the continent. On one hand, the incessant economic inequality and low wages that prevail in Latin American countries motivate individuals to go in search of better opportunities to the United States and Canada. On the other hand, the low skilled labor demand within these two countries encourages migrants to have certainty that they will find a place within the North American economies and as a consequence, much better wages.

For a long time, Mexico has played the role of transit country, where migrants (Mexican and Central American) wait for the right moment to cross the northern border with the United States. However, year after year, migrants in transit, refugees, returnees and internally displaced people are added to the country and the numbers are no longer so insignificant (in fact, they are increasing more and more). Furthermore, due to the health crisis caused by COVID-19, an increase in the return of Mexican people and expulsions of Central Americans through the northern border is expected. It is a reality: Mexico is a destination country and, as a destination country, new ways of managing migration must be found.

The reason that drives Mexico to be a destination country is multifactorial. Mexico is strategically positioned on the map and that, for better or worse, makes it dependent on its neighboring countries. As a result of the close link between United States, Canada and Mexico by their commercial relationships, the USMCA is essential for labor mobility within and outside of Mexico. Also, the result of the next elections in the United States will be decisive for the immigration agenda in the coming years. The COVID-19 contingency will also influence human mobility debate un the short term.

The year 2020 has been one full of changes and opportunities for improvement. In times of crisis like the ones we are experiencing, the ideal is to create ways to support the most vulnerable groups. Migrants are a group that has been vulnerable throughout history. We are currently experiencing a global migration crisis, along with a health and economic crisis. If the right decisions aren’t made, there will be a humanitarian crisis as well. 

Daniela Guevara