In a dramatic immigration reversal, more Mexicans have been leaving the United States than entering it over the past five years.
“The United States is no longer receiving net immigration from Mexico. Flows have reversed and there is now more U.S. migration to Mexico,” said Jeffrey Passel, a demographer at the Pew Hispanic Center (PHC).
Preliminary results from a PHC study reveal that between 2005 and 2010, up to 1.5 million Mexicans living in the United States returned to their homeland.
“This trend is explained by people who are leaving the United States and not being replaced by other undocumented migrants,” said Passel.The number of undocumented Mexican migrants in the United States dropped from seven million to six million from 2007 to 2011. The PHC estimates there are currently 11.1 million Mexicans residing legally or illegally in the United States, down from the historical peak of 12.6 million in 2007.
Immigration has dropped off as Mexican migrants face greater risks and fewer rewards north of the border, with stricter immigration laws and less job opportunities due to the United States’ stagnant economy.
“In the U.S. there are many states that have passed laws which make the lives of migrants risky or unpleasant,” said Passel. “It is more difficult to enter, more expensive, more dangerous, but it is also much harder to get a job.”