The Mexican Government and Organised Mexican Immigrants in The United States: A Historical Analysis of Political Transnationalism (1848–2005)

Gustavo Cano,Alexandra Délano

doi:10.1080/13691830701359157

Abstract

In this paper we argue that transnational relations between the Mexican government and Mexican immigrants in the US are not new. However, the characteristics of these connections have varied across time, depending on the evolution and characteristics of migrant organisations, political and economic circumstances in Mexico, and foreign policy considerations involving US–Mexico relations. The historical links between the government and the Mexican population abroad have influenced the development of current organisations of Mexican immigrants in the US as well as the recent creation and development of the Mexican government's institutions to manage this relationship. For more recent years, we identify a change in Mexico's traditional approach to migration issues in the bilateral agenda, as well as a shift in the relationship between the Mexican immigrant communities and the government. The process of institutionalisation of this new relation began with the Program for Mexican Communities Abroad in 1990, and was strongly consolidated in 2003 with the creation of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME). We argue that IME is the first transnational institution dealing with these issues and we explore some of the challenges it faces in order to achieve its objectives and exert a positive influence for Mexican migrants in the US. The paper is in three parts. In the first, we discuss the value of using a historical perspective for the study of transnational politics. The second part offers a historical account of the development of transnational relations between the Mexican government and the organised Mexican immigrant community from 1848 to 2005. In the third and final part we analyse the challenges faced by IME as a transnational institution.

Highlights

This paper addresses the relationship between the Mexican federal government and the organised Mexican immigrant community in the US from a historical perspective and within a framework of transnational politics
We argue that transnational relations between the Mexican government and Mexican immigrants in the US are not new; these relations vary across time depending on the evolution and characteristics of migrant organizations, political and economic circumstances in Mexico and foreign policy considerations involving US-Mexico relations
The Clubes de Oriundos’ activities were similar to the mutualistas, but as they grew and developed in the following decades, their relationship with local governments was strengthened and their influence in their communities in Mexico increased. During this period relations between the Mexican communitybased associations and the consulates were not as close as before. This can be considered a weak period in terms of transnational relations between the Mexican government and the organised community in the US, Mexican officials tried to maintain close contacts with migrants through the Bracero Program, cultural programs and visits (Gómez-Quiñones, 1983).xii issues regarding political, economic and human rights of the second and third generations of Mexican immigrants born in the US were mostly addressed by the Mexican American organisations that already existed and those created in the 1960s (Corwin, 1978)

Summary

The Center for Comparative Immigration Studies University of California, San Diego. The Mexican Government and Organised Mexican Immigrants in the United States: A Historical Analysis of Political Transnationalism, 1848-2005 By Gustavo Cano and Alexandra Delano. Mexico-North Research Network, Washington D.C. and Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, University of California, San Diego & St Antony’s College Oxford University. The Mexican Government and Organised Mexican Immigrants in the United States: A Historical Analysis of Political Transnationalism, 1848-. Gustavo Cano Mexico-North Research Network, Washington D.C. The Mexican Government and Organised Mexican Immigrants in The United States: A Historical Analysis of Political Transnationalism, 1848-2005

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