Chronicling Latinos’ diverse experience in a changing America 1615 L Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC (main) (fax)

Survey of Mexican Migrants

N= 4,836 All respondents were interviewed while applying for a Matricula Consular Interview sites: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Raleigh, Fresno Respondents who have no photo identification issued by a US governmental agency= 53%

Youthful Population and Recent Arrivals The survey captured a segment of the Mexican-born population that is younger and more recently arrived than the whole.

Sample is better educated than the population of Mexico (age + selection effects). Young, recently arrived are best educated: 28% of 5 years or less = HS or college vs 12% of all Mexicans. Brain Drain vs. improving migrant stock Education

Since the mid-90s a new migration: numbers, status, sources and destinations New Settlements: –Males –Recent Arrivals –Young Traditional vs. New Settlement

Public Policy Impact: In traditional settlement areas as many as half of all the Mexican migrants surveyed have children in public schools, compared with a quarter in new settlement areas.

Voting in Mexican Elections has deep, broad appeal: 87% of respondents say they would if they could. Voting Credentials: 42% of sample but share is higher among recent arrivals. –64% in US less than 2 years –29% in US 15 years or longer Reflected in recent migration patterns –63% from Veracruz have credential –37% from Jalisco Voting in Mexican Elections

Links to family in Mexico –78% remit and 52% remit at least once a month –54% talk with family in Mexico at least once a week; 46% of those in US 10 years or more –35% own land, housing or businesses in Mexico (43% of men, 24% of women ). Family in US –82% have relatives in US, 44% six or more, 66% in same US city or town –New settlements = fewer relatives but still connected; LA=61% six+ vs. NYC=29% Only14% belong to hometown clubs, sports teams or civic organizations Intense Transnationalism

Widespread Circularity Most matrícula applicants have been in US before (58%), including significant shares of those with no US ID (49%) and recent arrivals (34%). Differences by migration histories: Veracruz (48%) Jalisco (71%)

Uses for the Matricula Consular 68% 25% 39% 19% 43% 31% As an ID card in the US To cash checks in the US To mail money to Mexico from the US To open a bank account in the US To get a drivers license in the US To travel to Mexico from the US

When asked how long they expected to remain in the United States, a majority of respondents picked either “as long as I can” (42%) or “for the rest of my life” (17%). Meanwhile, 27 percent said they expected to stay for five years or less. Remaining in the US 27% 42% 17% As long as able/can 5 years or less All your life 6 or more years 8%

By a 4-to-1 margin (71% vs. 18%), survey respondents said they would participate in a program that would allow them to work in the United States and cross the border legally on the condition that they eventually return to Mexico. Respondents who said they had no form of U.S. issued photo ID were even more positive (79% vs. 16%). Immigration Programs Total SampleMatricula IDNo US ID 71% 18% 76% 15% 79% 16%

By wide margins, respondents in the overall sample (79% vs. 13%) and among those who said they had no U.S.-issued ID (82% vs. 12%) said that their friends and family in Mexico would be willing to participate in a temporary worker program that would eventually require them to return to Mexico. Immigration Programs Total SampleMatricula IDNo US ID 79% 13% 81% 12% 82% 12%

Chronicling Latinos’ diverse experience in a changing America 1615 L Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC (main) (fax)