Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUADALAJARA379
2007-07-31 20:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Guadalajara
Cable title:  

INCREASINGLY URBAN AND FEMALE CENTRAL WESTERN MEXICO

Tags:  SMIG PGOV PREL ECON MX XM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7298
RR RUEHCD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHGD #0379/01 2122031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 312031Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0311
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1545
RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGD/AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA 4343
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000379 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/MEX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SMIG PGOV PREL ECON MX XM
SUBJECT: INCREASINGLY URBAN AND FEMALE CENTRAL WESTERN MEXICO
EMIGRANT POPULATION FACES CHALLENGES

REF: A. GUADALAJARA 328, B. GUADALAJARA 365

GUADALAJAR 00000379 001.2 OF 002


Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000379

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/MEX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SMIG PGOV PREL ECON MX XM
SUBJECT: INCREASINGLY URBAN AND FEMALE CENTRAL WESTERN MEXICO
EMIGRANT POPULATION FACES CHALLENGES

REF: A. GUADALAJARA 328, B. GUADALAJARA 365

GUADALAJAR 00000379 001.2 OF 002


Summary
--------------


1. Summary: According to recent studies, the profile of
immigrants to the United States from Central Western Mexico has
changed in recent years. Immigrants from urban locales have
been on the rise and the female percentage among this population
has increased as well. Academics cited the more educated,
independent spirit of women from larger towns or cities as the
reason for their increased mobility. These trends have exposed
the increased vulnerability of women and children who make the
journey to the United States as well as those left behind in
Mexico. Guadalajara recently hosted a regional meeting of a
national women's migratory network formed to address the effects
of national and international migratory trends on women and
families. End Summary.

Migratory Trends: More Urban, More Women, Longer Stays
-------------- --------------


2. It is well known that Jalisco and surrounding States are
leading sources of Mexican emigrants to the United States (Refs
A and B). The profile of Mexican emigrants has changed,
however, according to academic findings presented during recent
regional meetings on migration. Increased numbers of higher
educated Mexicans from semi-urban/urban areas have emigrated to
the United States. Illegal immigrants have also stayed longer
in the United States, as it has become more risky and more
expensive to cross the border multiple times [Note: According to
a regional government official, coyotes charge Jalisco residents
US$2,000 to US$2,500 to take them across the border illegally.
End Note.] Men still dominate the percentage of Mexican
emigrants going to the United States, but women who have gone
have stayed longer, usually because their motivation is family
reunification.


3. Urban-dwelling women comprised the majority of female
emigrants, as they are more mobile, educated, and independent.
A Central Western Mexico study (States of Jalisco, Colima,
Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit) concluded that

the male-female breakdown of emigrants varied according to the
size of their hometown. Males comprised the dominating majority
of emigrants from towns with less than 50,000 residents;
however, at least half of emigrants were female leaving towns
with more than 50,000 residents. The typical profile of a
female emigrant was a married, young housewife with children:
40% were less than 25 yrs old; 20% worked outside of the home;
and 70% had children. Another recent study focused solely on
the increasing urban migration from Jalisco. The study
concluded that half of Jalisco emigrants left cities with
greater than 15,000 inhabitants (30% of those originated from
cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants--nearly all from the
Guadalajara metro area). About three quarters of Jalisco
emigrants were male, with the majority being between 15 and 24
years of age. This study concluded that men still dominated the
urban Jalisco emigrant population, but women emigrants were
increasing in numbers and comprised over 30% of the total.


4. The Jalisco study also analyzed the specific migratory
patterns of one of Guadalajara's lower income, working class
neighborhoods (Colonia Constitucion). About a quarter of
households had family members living in the United States, with
the overwhelming majority living in California. Other
significant family member destinations reported included
Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, and Washington. Only
about one third of households with emigrants received
remittances from their family members in the United States,
suggesting that many families are left to fend for themselves.


Women and Children Vulnerable At Home and Abroad
-------------- ---


5. These recent regional studies and meetings highlight the
plight of women and children affected by migratory patterns.
Increased numbers of women and children are at risk during their
travels and at their final destination, while the children that
remain in Mexico are often left without either parent. Men
dominate the support networks that do exist in the United States
(e.g., migrant liaison groups named "Clubs Jalisco"),while
women are commonly isolated at home with limited access to
healthcare and education. When deported, family members are
sometimes split up and may end up working in a border factory or
subject to sexual violence, trafficking in persons, or child
labor. In addition, significant emotional problems are created
by the absence of a child's father or family separation,
including spousal conflicts and mental/physical child abuse at
the hands of new head of household figure once their father or

GUADALAJAR 00000379 002.2 OF 002


both parents are gone.

Women's Migratory Network Trying to Get Organized
-------------- --------------


6. In May 2007, Guadalajara hosted the second regional meeting
of a national network trying to assist women suffering from the
negative effects of migration (Red para la Atencion de Mujeres
afectadas por el Fenomeno Migratorio [Network Focusing Attention
on Women Affected by the Migratory Phenomenon]). This Central
States (Zona Centro) meeting was one of three national meetings
that sought a coordinated solution to protect the human rights
of women and children affected by migration. Non-profit,
academic, religious, and civic organizations comprise the
majority of this network seeking to alleviate the problems women
and children face as a result of urban migration within Mexico,
emigration to the United States, and transit migration of
Central Americans through Mexico. This network is working with
the government's Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INAMI)
[National Institute of Migration] and Instituto Nacional de las
Mujeres [National Institute of Women]. Quintana Roo hosted the
first meeting for the southern region (Zona Sur) States in
October 2006. The next meeting will take place in Northern
Mexico (Zona Norte).

Comment
--------------


7. Comment: While families in Jalisco and the surrounding
States receive a significant amount of remittances from the
United States, the money does not appear to be enough to stop
more and more women from emigrating to the United States or to
solve the emotional strain on separated families. Increased
female emigration seems to have created a host of new problems
for family members at home and abroad. The creation of this
women's network, with the support of the national government,
brings much needed attention to women and children's issues.
The scope of the network's plans, however, seems a bit ambitious
given the variety of migratory problems facing Mexico. Only
time will tell if this network will be empowered and focused
enough to take specific actions to alleviate existing problems.
End Comment.

(Cleared: Amembassy Mexico:CONS:MBishop,USAID:RGarner,
ECON:LKirkconnell, POL:CBarclay)
MELZOW