By Coming Here, Illegal Immigrants Ensure Mexican Poverty

Statistics vary about how many illegal aliens are in the U.S. The most commonly quoted number is 11 million, although some people estimate the number to be as high as 20 million.

According to this BusinessWeek article, 56% of illegal immigrants are from Mexico with an addition 22% from other Latin American countries.

Let’s run some numbers:

1) 56% of 11 million illegal immigrants means that there are 6.16 million Mexican illegals currently in the U.S. (If we use the higher number, 20 million, it comes to 11.2 million Mexicans)

2) The population of Mexico is 105 million.

3) That means 6% of the Mexican population is illegally in the United States.

Supporters of illegal immigration tell us, ad naseum, that:

1) Illegal immigrants are hard-working people who are essential to the growth of the U.S. economy.

2) Since there is no opportunity in Mexico, the illegal immigrants have to sneak across the border to get jobs and ensure quality education for their children.

The logical questions are:

1) Why is the United States responsible for providing jobs and education for Mexican citizens?

2) Why can’t Mexico provide jobs and education for its own citizens?

Political change is fomented by unrest among the populace. However, in Mexico, the restive populace isn’t sticking around to change their home country. They are instead sneaking across the border into the United States.

Vicente Fox happily encourages this behavior because it removes a threat to his government. The least content people in his country aren’t revolting against the corrupt Mexican government - they are running away.

If 6% of the Mexican population united to change their country, they could make a huge positive impact on Mexico. But instead of taking a stand and making a difference, they run away to greener pastures.

By coming to the United States instead of staying at home and changing their own country, Mexicans are ensuring that Mexico remains firmly entrenched as a third-world country with a stagnant economy, a poor educational system and a corrupt government.