No jobs here either

5/22/2009

THE chief reason behind the drop in illegal immigration from Mexico might be funny if it were not such a telling commentary on the sad state of the American economy.

Recent Mexican census data indicate that migration from that country into the United States dropped drastically - by as much as 25 percent - in the year that ended in August, 2008, compared to 2007. The reason given for not crossing the border, legally or illegally, by most of those interviewed for the Mexican government report was the significant drop in U.S. job opportunities.

In other words, the issue of illegal immigration into the United States, particularly in its most blatant form along the U.S.-Mexico border, is being resolved, to some degree, by the deterioration of the American economy.

Another intriguing part of the Mexican data is there is no indication that Mexicans already in the United States, legally or not, are returning to their native country in greater numbers in the face of the recession. In other words, they, like Americans, are waiting out the jobs drought in hopes that things turn up.

Let's hope they are right.