Geography IGCSE - International immigration stats

USA location

It is in North America and is surrounded by Canada, Mexico and the Pacific Ocean

Percentage of immigrants in the US

14% (47 million)

Percentage of Mexican immigrants in the US

23%

BP1 (push + pull factors)

Around 36% of Mexico’s population lives below poverty line → many families can’t afford food, housing + healthcare → poor infrastructure in rural areas makes daily life harder → the USA offers clean water access to 99% of the population → better housing, sanitation + health services attract migrants

BP2 (push + pull factors)

In rural states → e.g. Chihuahua farming has become unreliable → due to frequent droughts + soil erosion → workers are forced off land with few options left → over 56% of Mexico’s workforce is employed informally → low wages, no job security + limited upward mobility
→ In the USA, even low skilled roles in sectors → e.g. hospitality + agriculture offer higher, stable wages → migrants often move to Houston where jobs + Hispanic communities are concentrated

BP3 (push + pull factors)

Northern Mexico → e.g. Sonora suffers from recurring droughts + occasional earthquakes → damages homes, cuts water supply + makes farming unstable → families seek safer environments → less risk of losing property or income to disasters → around 12 million Mexican born people live in the USA → strong networks help with housing, jobs + support → makes migration more appealing

BP1 (Effects on the origin)

In 2022, Mexico received $58 billion in remittances → families use this money to pay for food, school fees, housing + healthcare → improves basic living standards → rural areas like→ e.g. Chihuahua, remittances have become a lifeline → local shops + services grow as spending increases

BP2 (Effects on the origin)

Around 200,000 people migrate from Mexico to the USA each year, many aged 18 - 35 → reduces active labour force in rural areas
→ farms struggle to hire enough seasonal workers → some land left uncultivated → output falls → long term labour loss → forces wages to rise → small scale farmers can't afford to hire → farms lose competitiveness

BP3 (Effects on the origin)

Many migrants leave behind children or elderly parents → weakens family support systems → emotional stress builds over time → 13% of Mexican adults with tertiary education have migrated → causes brain drain in sectors → e.g. education + healthcare → schools + clinics lose skilled staff → local access to basic services declines → especially in poorer communities

BP1 (Effects on the destination)

Mexican migrants often work in agriculture, construction + hospitality → jobs locals avoid due to low pay or conditions → in California, over 50% of hired crop workers are foreign born → helps farms stay productive → migration supports industries that depend on flexible + low wage labour → keeps consumer costs down

BP2 (Effects on the destination)

Migrants bring language, food, festivals + traditions → enriches cultural identity in cities → large Mexican American communities promote cultural exchange → boosts tourism, food industries + bilingual services → in 2023, Mexican-born residents make up over 60% of the US Hispanic population → major influence on national identity

BP3 (Effects on the destination)

Sudden population growth in migrant hubs → strains schools, housing + hospitals → in Texas, public schools report rising class sizes in migrant heavy districts → budget stretched for language support + staffing → healthcare access becomes limited in low income areas → undocumented migrants may avoid clinics → worsens public health outcomes