Mexico-U.S. Border Issues
Background on the Immigration Debate
Widely cited demographers at the Urban Institute estimatedin January 2004 that there were 5.3 million undocumented Mexican migrantsresiding in the United States in 2002, accounting for 57 percent of the totalestimated illegal alien population of 9.3 million. Mexico takes the view that the migrants are ‘undocumented workers,’ making the point that since the U.S. market attracts and provides employment for the migrants, it bears someresponsibility. Mexico regularly voices concern about alleged abuses sufferedby Mexican workers in the United States, and for the loss of life and hardshipssuffered by Mexican migrants as they utilize increasingly dangerous routes andmethods to circumvent…
