The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that as of March 2010, 11.2 million unauthorized immigrants live in the U.S., and about 7 million of them migrated from Mexico. Why do so many Mexicans choose to illegally immigrate to the U.S where they are often treated with contempt and disrespect? And, if they really want to come to the U.S., why don’t they play by the rules and enter legally? Why do so many choose to make the grueling 4-day journey though the Arizona desert that involves very real risks of dehydration in 115-degree heat and rape at the hands of human smugglers?
Part of the explanation has to do with Mexico’s relative poverty and proximity to the U.S. The border between the U.S. and Mexico marks the largest income gap between any two neighboring countries in the world. Until 1986, when U.S. immigration laws changed so dramatically, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans came and went – or stayed – with comparative ease. As a result, the 2,000-mile border now splits millions of Mexican and American families. Considering the income disparity and the social, economic, and historical ties between the two countries, it’s easy to see why Mexicans choose to migrate to the U.S.
Another part of the explanation has to do with current U.S. immigration laws, which essentially treat Mexicans the same as just about any other nationality despite Mexico’s special status as a neighbor. In 2010, the U.S. provided fewer than 180 thousand visas to Mexicans for labor and family unification purposes. This figure is equivalent to just 2.7% of the number of unauthorized Mexicans now living in the U.S. The competition for such a small number of visas means that it’s practically impossible for the typical Mexican immigrant to enter the country legally in his or her lifetime. So, with no way to enter legally, Mexicans make the difficult decision to migrate illegally.
Consider a 30-year old Mexican with a high school education and a sibling who is a citizen of the U.S. According to data compiled by Forbes magazine, “playing by the rules” and applying for a green card could mean waiting in line for 131 years! Why such a long wait? The short answer is that current regulations limit any single country to 7% of the total number of green cards allotted by Congress in any given year. Mexico is subject to this limit just like any other country even though it is the world’s eleventh most populated country and a neighbor to the U.S.
It’s absurd to expect someone to go to the back of a line that never ends. If the U.S. wants Mexican immigrants to play by its rules, a set of rules must be created that includes them in the game. The design of the current U.S. immigration system is based on a model from nearly half a century ago. A twenty-first century immigration policy should recognize Mexico’s unique status as a neighbor of the U.S. Surely Mexican workers would prefer to enter legally, and moreover, the U.S. economy is dependent on their skills and labor.