1.2 - International Migration Case Study: Mexico to USA (Paper 1)

Question 1

Explain the pull factors to the USA from Mexico: (3)

Answer 1

• The Average income in the US is $31,000 and in Mexico it is $18,000 so people would want to migrate to the USA for better income. (1)
• The unemployment rate in the USA is 3.50% so people would want to migrate so they are less likely to be unemployed. (1)
• The population of Mexico is growing and is expected to reach 126.6 Million by the end of 2024, meaning fast workforce growth and competition for very few jobs so people would want to migrate to the USA so that they can get a job. (1)

Question 2

Explain the push factors to the USA from Mexico: (3)

Answer 2

• The crime rate in Mexico is 28.4/100k population so people may want to migrate to the USA where the crime rate is lower and they can live safely. (1)
• In Mexico, earthquakes have the potential to have a magnitude of 8.0 which can destroy the infanstructure. Due to this, people would want to migrate to the USA to live. (1)
• The arid climate of Mexico causes water shortages which limits its agricultural potential so people would want to move to the USA to grow their own crops. (1)

Question 3

Explain the impacts migration has on Mexico: (3)

Answer 3

• Certain villages in Santa Ines have lost 2/3rds of their inhabitants. With the loss of many skilled workers, the country may not be as productive and with the large outflow of the young population, it leaves the elderly with very little support. (1)
• Legal and illegal immigrants send back $6 million to Mexico. This money can be used to help improve the quality of life and the government can use the money to invest in other things. (1)
• In the city of Axochiapan, husbands and fathers were absent for years because they were working in the USA. This leaves the women to raise children in a community where the main source of income is from remittances to Axochiapan. (1)

Question 4

Explain the impact migration has on the USA: (4)

• Positive (1)
• Negative (3)

Answer 4

Positive:

• In the US, the immigration labour force increased by 5% from 2019-2022. This is because of the high numbers of migrants migrating from Mexico to the US and more people means the amount of labour will increase leading to better productivity, output and economic growth for the USA. (1)

Negative:

Remittances is seen as money loss from the American economy, in 2021, 48.9 billion was sent to Mexico from the US. This could cause tension in between the 2 countries. (1)

• In the state of Texas which borders with Mexico, over 40% of the population is Mexican. Due to this Mexican culture has enriched Texas and other states bordering with Mexico and this could lead to American culture not being preserved. (1) (For impacts on immigrants, 68 million Americans is the combined population for Texas and California)
• Due to illegal migration from Mexico to the USA, the American government has to spend $25 million and border patrolling, installation of fences and detention centres which causes tension between the 2 countries. (1)