Para el sur: analyzing contemporary Mexican return migration with a case study of Jupiter, Florida immigrants

Recent data show that migration from Mexico to the United States has significantly decreased while return migration to Mexico has increased, producing a net reduction in the total number of Mexican migrants in the U.S. Some argue that the increase in immigration enforcement within the United States is the leading cause for this change because it has altered the cost/benefit balance enough to make migration less appealing and to encourage people to self-deport. The “self-deportation” hypothesis is based on the neo-classical theory of immigration. This case study offers an alternate explanation. Interviews with migrants in Jupiter, FL and returned migrants in Mexico suggest that the reasons for return are more complex. Family reunification, access to networks, and changing demographics are all important reasons driving the recent change in Mexican immigration. These findings suggest that the “self-deportation” approach to U.S. immigration policy may be misguided.