Unlike the massive census the U.S. performs once a decade, Mexico undergoes a yearly, smaller census, to determine its population, and this year’s census shows a big jump in Mexico’s population.
Amidst the U.S.’s troubled economy, and some state’s harsh new immigration legislation, it has become apparent to those on both sides of the fence that the number of Mexicans choosing not to head north into the U.S. has increased, while others have chosen to return to Mexico.
Simply judging by the number of arrests made by U.S. Border Patrol officers over the last 10 years, it is obvious that fewer Mexicans are crossing into the U.S.
In 2000, 1.6 million immigrants were arrested while attempting to cross, but in the 11 months leading to August of this year, only 304,755 people were arrested.
In addition to the unwelcoming U.S. economy and slew of immigration laws in various states, migrants also have to get through the cartel-run cities that line the border before reaching the U.S., prompting many to stay home rather then take the risk.
