Mexico–United States migration, 1980s–2010

Abstract

Abstract The Mexico–US migration dynamic underwent a new boost upon the shift to exports in Mexican economy in the neoliberal era, particularly after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed and enforced in 1994. Although the long history of Mexican migration to the United States began at the end of the 19th century, it was not until the 1980s to 2010 that it became particularly high, increasing almost six‐fold, from 2.1 million (3.1 percent of Mexico's population) to 11.9 (10.8 percent of Mexico's population). By 2010, the growth was so dramatic and extensive that the Mexico–US migration corridor was the largest in the world, and Mexico became the world's top emigration and transit country.