Profile of Illegal Border Crossers
The following description of "would-be illegal border crossers" was developed from research
conducted by San Diego Dialogue in the San Ysidro Port of Entry (SYPOE), along the fence (FENCE)
and in the Casa del migrante (CASA) in Tijuana. Supplemental information is included from the Cañon
Zapata Survey (COLEF) conducted by El Colegio de la Frontera Norte. The demographic characteristics of
would-be illegal border crossers can vary depending on the place chosen for the attempted crossing.
Sex
In the port of entry, women are a major share of would-be illegal crossers and
greater than their share elsewhere. Historically, men have been a greater share of the crossers. To the extent that illegal
crossers use the fence more than the port of entry, men are still a greater share of all would-be illegal crossers.
(The fence population appears to be about 5 times as great as the population in the port based on 1994 monthly data
for the apprehensions by the Border Patrol.)
Family Home for Would-be Illegal Border Crossers
Michoacán is a Mexican state known for sending migrants to the U.S. In all four sources of information
about where the would-be border crossers were from,Michoacán
was given as the state of the family home or the place from which the would-be crosser came from by at least 10% of the
would-be crossers. Except for the Cañon Zapata Survey (COLEF), the Districto Federal (Mexico City)
was also mentioned by at least 10% of those included in the study. Mexico City has not been a traditional family
home of migrants to the U.S.
Age
Most would-be illegal border crossers are between26 and 45 years
Only 1% are over 45. These ages are consistent with the fact that most illegal border crossers are going to the U.S. to work.
Almost everyone in the Casa (96%) and on the fence is planning to work. In the San Ysidro Port of Entry, around
30% of illegal border crossers are returning residents and 30% are planning to seek work.
Marital Status
Would-be illegal border crossers on the fence are likely to be single.
In the port of entry, possibly reflecting the proportion of women, the share of married persons is higher.
Previous Occupation
Most illegal border crossers worked as operators, fabricators
and laborers or in service occupations. Farming occupations rank third. This suggests that migrants come both from the urban
and rural areas. State level data cannot accurately separate urban and rural backgrounds. However, 99% of the
cities named were large enough to be found easily on a map of México in the World Atlas
. Considering that rural areas are the poorest in México, migrants coming to the U.S. are not necessarily
the very poorest people from México.
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San Diego Dialogue
San Diego Dialogue is a partnership between the
greater San Diego/Tijuana community and the University of California, San Diego for the purpose
of addressing large issues of regional development in an atmosphere of quiet deliberation and careful
research. San Diego Dialogue was established in 1991, has a membership of nearly 100 leaders from
both sides of the border, and is non-partisan. Dr. William J. McGill, former chancellor of UCSD and
president emeritus of Columbia University is the chair. San Diego Dialogue can be reached
via the internet at sddialogue@unexpost.ucsd.edu
.
January, 1996