blackangst1
Lifer
- Feb 23, 2005
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I agree that wanting control of who comes in and out is not racist. Overwhelmingly prioritizing keeping out brown people is though.
If only that were the case. This link outlines how China and India have overtaken Mexico as the largest countries of origin for legal immigration. The reduction from Mexico has nothing to do with "brown people". I mean, Indians are brown people too, no?
Immigration from Mexico has dropped even more precipitously than immigration from China and India has risen. The number of recent immigrants from Mexico fell from 369,000 in 2005 to 125,000 in 2013, a 66 percent reduction in just eight years, according to the Census Bureau study. While legal immigration from Mexico declined slowly from 161,000 in FY 2005 to 135,000 in FY 2013, illegal migration fell much more rapidly. Southwest border apprehensions of Mexican nationals, which indicate patterns of illegal entries, topped 1 million in FY 2005, falling to a historic low of 229,000 in FY 2014.
And, as we all know, illegal immigration has declined for several reasons.
A coincidental alignment of economic and demographic factors in both countries has spurred the decline in illegal immigration from Mexico. In the United States, the Great Recession significantly weakened the economy, and in particular depressed demand for low-wage workers, in construction and also in agriculture and other sectors that traditionally employ Mexican unauthorized workers. Equally important, the United States has significantly strengthened the immigration enforcement system in the past decade, making it more risky and costly to cross the border, and by deporting unauthorized immigrants quickly and in record numbers.
But, its not just the recession and fear that is keeping them from crossing illegally, its lower birthrates in Mexicao, and improved working conditions:
n Mexico, demographic and economic changes have also altered migration dynamics. First, declining birthrates have resulted in a shrinking pool of potential migrants. The Mexican economy has meanwhile strengthened and stabilized in recent years, creating new job opportunities. And the country has greatly expanded its educational system, providing young Mexicans who want to improve their lives with viable alternatives to migrating north.
In spite of that, Mexicans are still the largest foreign-born group in the country.
Despite the unsavory way Trump talks about Mexico, all of this does not equal racism.
