There are fewer undocumented immigrants in California now because many are finding the American dream south of the border.
"It's now easier to buy homes on credit, find a job and access higher education in Mexico," said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Mexican consul general in Sacramento, Calif. "We have become a middle-class country."
Mexico's unemployment rate is 4.9 percent, compared with 9.4 percent joblessness in the United States.
An estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants have left California since 2008, though the remaining 2.6 million still make up 7 percent of the population and 9 percent of the labor force, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
The best-paid jobs for undocumented migrants are in the building industry, "and because of the severe crisis in the construction business here, their first response has been to move into the service industry," Gonzalez Gutierrez said. "But that has its limits. Then, they move to other areas in the U.S. to find better jobs -- or back to Mexico."
Laura Hill, a demographer with the Public Policy Institute, said it's hard to know whether the benefit of having fewer undocumented migrants outweighs the cost to employers and taxpayers.
States may have to provide less free education to the children of undocumented immigrants and less emergency medical care, she said, but they also will get less tax revenue.
In 2008, at least 836,100 undocumented immigrants filed U.S. tax returns in California using tax identification numbers known as I-10s, said Hill, who conducted the tax survey.
Some immigrants aren't sticking around for the upcoming tomato harvest, said Sylvina Frausto, secretary of Holy Rosary Church in Woodland, Calif. "Some have a small parcel in Mexico. They own their own home there, so instead of renting here they go back to their small business there."
Many raise animals, run grocery stores or sell fruits and goods on street corners.
"They're going back home because they can't get medical help or government assistance anymore," Frausto said, "And when it's getting so difficult for them to find a job without proper documentation, it's pushing them away."
Anita Barnes, director of La Familia Counseling Center in Sacramento, said she recently spoke to a high school graduate who had lost his job in a restaurant and was thinking of going back to Mexico.
"He came over with his mom, who was in the process of losing her restaurant job," Barnes said. "It's frightening, especially for the children. They feel this is their country, they don't know anything else, and they find they can't get driver's licenses or jobs."
As its economy rebounds, Mexico "is becoming a better option than it was in the past, but you still have to find a job and reconnect," Barnes said.
While the weakened U.S. economy, rising deportations and tougher border enforcement have led to fewer undocumented migrants, changes in Mexico also are playing a significant role, Gonzalez Gutierrez said.
Mexico's average standard of living -- including health, education and per capita income -- is now higher than those in Russia, China and India, according to the United Nations.
Mexico's growing middle class "reduces the appetites to come because there are simply many more options" at home, Gonzalez Gutierrez said. "Most people who decided to migrate already have a job in Mexico and tend to be the most ambitious and attracted to the income gap between the U.S. and Mexico."
Mexico's economy is growing at 4 percent to 5 percent, benefiting from low inflation, exports and a strong banking system, the consul said.
Mexico's birthrate is also declining sharply. "As a natural consequence of us transforming from a rural to an urban society, we are running out of Mexicans to export," Gonzalez Gutierrez said. "Our society's growing at a rate of 2.1 children per woman -- in the 1970s it was more than five."
Once the U.S. economy recovers, the flow of migrants moving north "may go up again, although most likely they will not reach the peak levels we saw in the first half of the decade," he said.
AbraCadabra posted at 11:25 pm on Mon, Aug 8, 2011.
good, don't steal across the border again, we don't want you here
shrinkingviolet posted at 11:57 pm on Mon, Aug 8, 2011.
Boy, you sure told them. Scintillating addition to the dialogue, Abby.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:41 am on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
Be sure and take all the "anchor babies" with you when your go ..BACK HOME.
Oh, and take a two United States Senators and a couple United States Congressmen with you (one from Tucson and one from Mesa)......[wink]
RationalHuman posted at 10:08 am on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
Stephen needs to stop writing articles with slanderous titles.
The title of the article is "Mexican immigrants leaving California, going home" but the only people covered in the actual article are illegal felonous invaders, not immigrants.
Does Stephen also call drug dealers "unlisenced pharmacists"?
I guess you just can't fix stupid.
Masterrogue666 posted at 8:01 am on Fri, Aug 12, 2011.
Stephen, the words that you SHOULD USE are "ILLEGAL ALIENS", or "INVADING FOREIGN NATIONALS"!!! Stop trying to lump them in with LEGAL workers that come to this country. You shouldn't use "undocumented", because it hints at the idea that perhaps that lost their papers. THEY ARE CRIMINALS, and should be treated as such!
"It's now easier to buy homes on credit, find a job and access higher education in Mexico," said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Mexican consul general in Sacramento, Calif. -- It's about time that the MEXICAN GOVT took care of it's own people and stop expecting the USA to do it for you!!!!
"An estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants have left California since 2008, though the remaining 2.6 million still make up 7 percent of the population and 9 percent of the labor force" and "836,100 undocumented immigrants filed U.S. tax returns in California using tax identification numbers known as I-10s" -- So, what you are telling me is that only 32.16% paid taxes!!! Don't tell me they contribute to our economy!!! What would happen if that many Americans didn't pay their taxes?
quietgardens posted at 9:07 am on Sat, Aug 13, 2011.
The people who draw on federal/state funds should be people that FULLY contribute to the system.
Come to Amercia, yes! But come honorably through the front door like many other immigrants. Get government permission, learn English, pay ALL your taxes, take a solemn oath to our country...then you can have access to all of our wonderful opportunities here.