Why are Mexicans crossing the US border illegally?

Question

If things are so bad in Mexico that illegal Mexican immigrants are coming to Mexico, and then protesting for reform, why don't they save the trip and the cost of moving, and just reform Mexico instead?

*Please note:I am really actually curious as to the reasoning behind this, is it because their political system is hard to reform or something completely different?

Answer 1

Mexico's social structure is still a very class based system and a lot of times it is hard for anyone who is dark skin to find a job (jobs will specify they are looking for someone with light skin)

Also consider they just had a major social reform just a couple decades ago

it's still a developing country and the minimum wage is 50 pesos per day (5 dollars)

Answer 2

Mexican migration been crossing the borders for over 150 years, and the media distorts the truth regrading the situation. Mexico is poor compared to the Untied States, but south of Mexico that is lot worse like El Salivdor, Nicaragua. Wage difference is 6 to 1, and Mexican elites protect thier turf at all costs. Mexico needs economic reform, and the goverment is slowly correcting some of the mistake made years ago. Only way your gonna slow down migration from Mexico is reducing the wage differance, and bringing down the number of people in absolute proverty. Untied States needs to reform the immigration system, and tax system so we dont depend on income to fund so much of the Federal goverment functions. Tax reform with Fair tax based on comsumption would capture migrant dollars easier than are current progressive based 60,000 irs code that full of loopoles. Immigration reform is based on people coming to work, and not based on family connections. Chain family immigration needs to reduced.

Answer 3

Try to reform the government in Mexico and you're not heard from again. In the US they can protest and get loads of freebies from our government at taxpayers expense. The US government will GIVE anybody, anything, anytime for free unless it's a US citizen. Also if things are so bad in Mexico why is it only along the border with the US.

Answer 4

There is a lot more oppurtunity in the US than there is in Mexico. It is a lot easier to spend your time on reform when you aren't struggling for decent living conditions in the first place.

There also is simply a lot more money in the US-- a lot of reform requires money to be siphoned into it for the reforms to take place. For instance, to have a living wage in Mexico would require that employers be able to pay a living wage-- something that many employers in Mexico couldn't do. (and the large corporations taking advantage of cheap labor there aren't willing to do) In America, pushing for wage reform would be easier because it's possible.

It's an interesting point, but I think the basic reason is that the less corrupted and broken a system already is, the easier it is to reform, and the US's system simply is working better than Mexico's, and therefore it's easier to reform for anyone, including immigrants.

Answer 5

Mexicans find in here jobs that pay better. They can save money and give to their families a good status of life. Sometimes they can send their kids to better schools. The situation in Mexico is not too bad, but they can find better opportunities in here and they can make more money, but they also have to sacrifice a lot of thing like being apart of the family which in Mexico, families used to be really close all the time, and also they have to miss a lot of great family moments. That is talking about Mexicans who come here to work and left their families there. When the whole family is here is usually because, be apart its to hard so they try to be together and live well.
They take hard jobs is not easy for any inmigrant, any nationality, There's more that Mexican in migrants in this country.
I hope this answer help you to understand a little bit Why!!

Answer 6

The prospect of "a better life" in the USA is very promising to most Mexicans whom have wages that pale in comparison to a wage they can make working in a factory or picking strawberries. But the annoying part is when they "protest for reform" when they came here illegally.

Answer 7

The person is detained and held until they have a deportation hearing. The hearing in itself can take anywhere from a week to six months. The deportation process can take up to another six months, so for some, they receive a year of jail time.

Answer 8

Because they want money, they want money now, and reforming Mexico takes time. Illegally crossing into the US and getting employed -- not so much.

Answer 9

from what i hear, the mexican government is as corrupt, if not more so than ours. the only reason we are better off than they are is because of unions. they come over here and make more money than ever thought possible in mexico. you cant blame them. we cant reform our government. theyve been lying to us for years. you go against the government and what happens? its the same there only worse. they can work here, save their money, and retire in mexico in 10 years. what would you do?

Answer 10

If business in the USA had the same power it does in Mexico and could make you live 12 to a room for a dollar a week with no clean water, no sanitary facilities and it could dump it's poisons wherever it wanted, wouldn't you try to go somewhere better? Well they are. And if they can get enough money together, maybe they can make it better in Mexico so it will be the nice place to live. What can you do to help them?