Mexico Census Shows 70% Decline in Emigration to the U.S.

New census data from the Population, Migration, and Religious Affairs office within the Mexican government reveals a historic trend in migration between Mexico and the United States. According to the deputy secretary of the agency, the number of Mexican nationals leaving the United States to return to Mexico is 2.7 times higher than the amount in 2000.

“[We have] seen a net zero balance
between emigrants and immigrants who return to Mexico,
meaning we’re experiencing a historic moment,” said Rene Zenteno Quintero who serves as the deputy secretary for Mexico’s Population, Migration, and Religions Affairs office.

Quintero also referred to a report from the National Occupation and Employment survey that hows a 70% decline in the rate of emigration to the United States.

The deputy secretary attributes the situation to the recession, the impact of the recession on the future U.S. economy, and policies regarding illegal immigration taken at both the national and state levels.

“[A] hostile environment toward illegal immigrants, reflected in the more than 1 million deportees during President (Barack) Obama’s administration and the proliferation of negative local environments in terms of political discourse, public opinion and legal overhauls,”Quintero said.

The reduced levels of immigration worry many in Mexico since remittances sent by Mexican citizens working in the United States is the country’s No. 2 source of income after oil exports.

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