The United States is one of the most important countries worldwide know by its power, economic development and influence. Located in the American continent this region is known for having a high rate of international immigrants. As it can be observed in the map along with countries such as Spain, France, Belgium, Japan, and United Arabs Emirates among others; it is recognize as major receiver of immigrants, particularly of those coming from the Caribbean and Latin American countries; according to the report made by the CEPAL (2006): between 1990 and 2000 the number of immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean was almost double, representing approximately three quarter of the total of migrants in the region. Despite the amendments of immigration policy, the “Latinos” or “Hispanic” amounted to 35.3 million of people in the US. For 2005, 71% of the total population was Mesoamerican (mostly Mexicans), 17% Caribbean, and 12% from South America.” As statistics shown, Mexicans are the principal source of immigrant in the United States, “since 1980 the immigrants with highest growing rate and births were the Mexicans concentrating 60% of all migrants in the region, and keeping a sustained growth”[1]. Despite representing historically a majority in the US; Mexicans are known for having a large segment of undocumented population; and when compared with people coming from south America and the Caribbean they have a lowest rate in education, and professionals; this noticeable situation has gain this ethnic the reputation of being an important labor force with low wages in sectors like construction, agriculture and manufacturing; states like California for example represent high employment of Mexicans for manual jobs. Language is also a barrier for them, English is essential when reaching high incomes jobs is the goal, as CEPAL (2006) explains that: the succeed of integrations within the American society, it is determinate by a combination of factors such as national origin or ethnic group, level of English, the access to American citizenship, support of social networks among others”. As is reported by Martínez (2003): Mexicans have the highest grade of undocumented, and the lowest level of integration within American society, they profiles of education are lowest too”[2] the important issue is that citizenship represent access to certain rights and improvement on life conditions, Mexican naturalizations as citizen of legal permanent residents are lowest, while : “Anguilla represents (69%), British Virgin Islands (62%), Cuba (60.6%); Argentine, Chilean and Colombian naturalized represent over 40% and Panamanians represents 58%; Mexican recorded a percentage, only about 23%”. [3]
As a conclusion it can be said that despite being historically the largest group of immigrants in the United States there are still some political issues that interfere in the total economic, social, cultural integration of Mexican in American social order, making it sometimes a bit vulnerable. It is also important to highlight that sometimes this lack of integration does not only depend on politics but in some Mexicans divergence and denial of the necessity of embracing the social context and life style they are getting into.
[1] Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe CEPAL (2006), Migración internacional, derechos humanos y desarrollo.
[2] Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe CEPAL (2006), Migración internacional, derechos humanos y desarrollo.
[3] Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe CEPAL (2006), Migración internacional, derechos humanos y desarrollo.
REFERENCES
Martínez, Jorge y Fernanda Stang (2005), Lógica y paradoja: libre comercio, migración limitada. Memorias del Taller sobre Migración Internacional y Procesos de Integración y
Cooperación Regional, serie Seminarios y Conferencias Nº 45 (LC/L.2272-P), Santiago
de Chile, CEPAL. Publicación de las Naciones Unidas, Nº de venta: S.05.II.G.99.
Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe CEPAL (2006), Migración internacional, derechos humanos y desarrollo.
Some scholar once proposed the theory of the 21st paralel, by which everyplace above this latitude will thrive and attrack people from poor countries.
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