A study of remittances to Mexico and Central America: Characteristics and perspectives of immigrants

Abstract

Mexican and Central American immigrants remit large sums to improve the well‐being of their families back home. Though literature provides substantial data on the economic impact of remittance funds, we know little about remitters themselves. The current mixed methods study utilizes data from the Mexican Migration Project and the Latin American Migration Project (n = 1,218) to examine characteristics of immigrants who remit and data from focus groups to explore the meaning of remitting to Mexican and Central American immigrants. Findings suggest that marital status, legal documentation status, and English proficiency are three key predictors of remittance behaviors. Immigrants report that remitting leads to their own positive feelings and also fulfills an obligation they have to improve the well‐being of family remaining at home. Implications for social work practice with Mexican and Central American immigrants are discussed.Key Practitioner Message: • Results indicate characteristics of immigrants based on remittance sending behaviors, increasing our knowledge of immigrants who support family back home; • Findings highlight the meaning of remitting for immigrants, and thus suggest a relationship between remitting and immigrant well‐being.