NCJ Number
59791
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (APRIL 1979) Pages: 425-438
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH EARLIER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MOST APPREHENDED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN POOR FARMWORKERS, INTERVIEWS WITH 818 IMMIGRANTS WHO PROBABLY HAD PREVIOUSLY ENTERED ILLEGALLY SHOWED THAT THEY WERE SEMISKILLED CITY MEN.
Abstract
EARLIER STUDIES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, FROM MEXICO ARE ONLY PART OF A LARGER IMMIGRATION PROBLEM INVOLVING MOST OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE CARIBBEAN. THESE WORKERS FLOW BACK AND FORTH, MANY TRAVELING BETWEEN THEIR HOMELAND AND THE UNITED STATES MANY TIMES. SOME WORKERS USE THE PROVISION OF U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW WHICH ALLOWS FAMILIES TO BE REUNITED TO ENTER LEGALLY AFTER COMING ILLEGALLY AND ESTABLISHING A RESIDENCE. TO STUDY SUCH IMMIGRANTS INTERVIEWS WERE HELD IN SPANISH WITH MEN AGED 18 TO 60 ENTERING THROUGH THE BORDER CHECKPOINTS IN EL PASO, TEXAS, AND LORADO, MEXICO. ALTHOUGH FEW WERE WILLING TO ADMIT IT DIRECTLY, THROUGH INDIRECT QUESTIONING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ABOUT HALF HAD COME PREVIOUSLY AS UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS AND HAD ESTABLISHED DE FACTO RESIDENCE IN THE U.S. ECONOMIC REASONS PULLED THEM, 49.5 PERCENT COMING FOR BETTER WAGES OR LIVING CONDITIONS. UNLIKE THE STEREOTYPED ILLITERATE FARMER OF MOST ALIEN STUDIES, THESE MEN HAD AT LEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION, SOME FACTORY SKILLS, AND HAD BEEN LIVING IN URBAN AREAS. THEY PLANNED TO LIVE IN URBAN AREAS AND GET INDUSTRIAL OR SERVICE JOBS. THEY ARE PULLED TO THE U.S. BECAUSE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN MEXICO WIDELY ADVERTISE THE BENEFITS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION, BUT THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE LIMITS THESE BENEFITS TO A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION. AS LONG AS THIS IMBALANCE BETWEEN NEEDS AND FULFILLMENT EXISTS, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WILL CONTINUE. THE ANSWER IS TO SEE THE PROBLEM AS LABOR IMBALANCE, NOT AS A THREAT. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)