Since Donald Trump's re-election, America has continued to block migrants at the Mexico border from coming into the country, increasing their strict border and immigration policies. So ¿why are so many Americans crossing the border to move out of the US?
A recent article published in El País showed that nearly 70% of Mexico’s 1.2 million migrants are U.S. citizens, a population that has been steadily rising since the pandemic.
Unlike America’s challenging migration system, They predominantly populate areas such as Roma and Condesa in Mexico City. Between 700,000 and one million U.S. citizens live in Mexico, according to the state department.
Unlike America’s challenging migration system, Mexico has a much more migrant friendly system, which could be one reason for the growth. U.S. citizens do not require a tourist visa to enter Mexico and are entitled to a stay of up to 6 months per visit. Temporary visas also allow individuals to live in Mexico between 6 months to just under 4 years.
The US dollar also goes much further in Mexico, and while the US is ramping up deportations for undocumented migrants, Mexico’s deportation numbers have dropped.
Political changes may also have been a factor. After Donald Trump's re-election, Google results showed a spike in “moving to Mexico” searches.
All of this has had its consequences, however. Many Mexican nationals have noted a spike in gentrification, specifically in Mexico City, by self-proclaimed expats who they say are driving up the costs of both rent and basic goods.
They also see a rise in the Americanization of Mexico, with the opening of more Westernized businesses and an increased English-speaking population. Other Latin American countries like Puerto Rico and Costa Rica have also seen a surge in gentrification over the years. Cities like San Juan and Ricon, Puerto Rico, resemble the challenges in Mexico City.
The American Citizens Abroad (ACA) organization estimates that approximately 6 million U.S. citizens reside overseas, Mexico being the top location. That is expected to continue increasing in the next 4 years, especially if the US doesn’t address its economic and political issues.
This week, Donald Trump, despite his vocal anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies, announced the creation of a new investment visa to incentivise the wealthiest foreigners' permanent residency.
His “Gold Card”, a play on the Green Card, offers migrants a path to US citizenship and tax breaks if they pay $5 million. It's the most expensive US residency plan in the world.
Green card holders and permanent residents must pay income tax on their U.S. earnings, including income they earn overseas and in their home country. The “Gold Card” would provide a loophole for the wealthy and remove the tax on worldwide income.
Although the same applies to migrants from the US moving to Mexico, the country continues to see a rise in US citizens making the country their new home. With the political climate continuing to become more polarized in the US, there is no slowing down in sight.
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