Migration Re-intentions: The Risks and Dangers of Crossing the U.S.-Mexico Border

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Abstract

This paper investigates the migration re-intentions of previously unauthorized migrants in a small city in Guanajuato, Mexico in an era of increased physical risks and economic costs associated with crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. We draw on the 2014 Study of Health and Migration in Mexico (SHMM) that contains quantitative and qualitative data on the subjective health and health conditions as well as migration histories of return migrants and non-migrants. Our quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that despite the past risks and dangers that migrants have previously encountered while crossing the border, a substantial percentage of return migrants indicate that they have plans to return to the U.S. over the course of the next year. Surprisingly, we found that even migrants with poor health were willing to undertake the arduous and dangerous journey to the United States.

Authors

• Sergio Chavez, Rice University

• Claire E. Altman, University of Missouri

• Bridget K. Gorman, Rice University