Through Mexican Eyes: Mexican Perspectives on Transmigration

Abstract:     
The focus of this article is the phenomenon of international transmigration in Mexico. Transmigration is the movement of individuals from their place of origin through another without intention to settle and on their way to a final destination. Mexico’s transmigrant population consists of individuals headed or returning to the southern Mexican region from the United States or Canada. But this population also includes Central and South American transmigrants attempting to reach the United States using land routes through Mexico. For the most part the paper does not touch on the experiences of domestic transmigrants. Rather, the bulk of the paper addresses international transmigrants found in the Southern Mexican border.

The paper begins by establishing the historical and cultural interconnected nature of the southern border region, and the means by which transmigrants cross through Mexico on their way north. The paper then explains the governmental structures and laws affecting the migration; this is especially important since Mexico’s immigration laws are in a transition process. Very much deserved time is then given to the vast reports of human rights violations against transmigrants reported by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and media. Finally, the paper makes some modest observations on the current status of transmigration in Mexico and sets forth some ideas for future consideration as Mexico reexamines its role in transmigration.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 35

Keywords: Transmigrants, Mexico, Human Rights

Accepted Paper Series