Economic Migration: Mexico to Texas

As an individual that decided to move to the United States for university, I might talk about the persistence of brain drain in the Mexican context and the challenges that I have experienced as an educated migrant in Washington, D.C. However, I'd rather talk about my experience living in a border town in the north of Nuevo Leon, close to Laredo, Texas.

Anahuac is a small town whose main economic activities are the maquila industry, livestock, and small enterprises. Due to its closeness with the border, the lack of well-paid employment, and cartel violence—part of its population has decided to move to Texas, especially to Laredo, San Antonio, and Dallas to start a new life, while another part travels every day between the U.S.-Mexico border for work or study purposes. This is a very typical dynamic of Anahuac inhabitants.

"she was being paid US$6 per day in a local laundry service business and she couldn’t afford her two daughters' higher education"

​I grew up really close to this kind of lifestyle. Recently, my aunt decided to look for better job opportunities in Laredo, Texas since she was being payed US$6 per day in a local laundry service business and she couldn’t afford her two daughters' higher education. Now she is working as a housekeeper in Laredo, Texas and her income allows her to afford things that she couldn’t have afforded before. 

In this kind of context its really difficult to stand against migration for economic reasons, since it is part of the normal routine. I consider that migration has represented economic relief for many people and we should respect their decision to look for a higher standard of living. In the end, this is what we all are looking for.

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Submitted by Anonymous