Many Chicanos face an economic barrier as well as a physical one. Their Mexican heritage often limits them to low-wage jobs and makes social mobility difficult. The rate of immigration to the United States continues to increase even while the obstacles to making the journey are difficult to overcome. Currently, the fee to illegally cross the border from Mexico to Phoenix is approximately $2000. (http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=3090_0_2_0)
Immigrants come to the US in search of jobs and hoping to become legalized citizens. Forty-eight percent of those people born in Mexico have jobs in the US. Sadly, a large portion of the Mexican immigration population is at or below the poverty line. ÒThe Mexican population is three times more likely to live in poverty than the average AmericanÓ (González, 80). This population dominates the agricultural job force along with other low-wages jobs. These undocumented workers come for the Òunderground economyÓ (http://www.newsbatch.com/immigration.htm) to work as gardeners, household help, and other low wage positions.
The large population growth in the US is due to increasing number of undocumented immigrants, especially the foreign born children of these undocumented immigrants. Most of the undocumented worker population comes as temporary workers but remain permanently. Ninety-four percent of undocumented immigrants come from Mexico. California, New York and Florida have the highest immigrant population in the United States.
The US agricultural economy is becoming increasingly dependant on undocumented laborers. Cheap labor keeps food prices low and actually strengthens the US economy by keeping wages and the living standard high for most of the population. Even though NAFTA legislation was designed to improve the economies of the
countries involved, MexicoÕs economy has been severely damaged. Prior to NAFTA, consumers paid less for domestic items than imports. However, many conglomerates moved south of the border capitalizing on MexicoÕs cheap labor, which has caused many Americans to be unemployed. Due to harsh economic conditions, Mexicans are willing to work for well below minimum wage. Mexican farmers and small businesses cannot compete with the large American corporations moving into the country. As a result, Mexican companies must sell their products for less than American companies in order to compete on the market.
The prices of foreign goods and services cost less than domestic goods and services. The domestic industries are wiped out because they cannot offer cheaper goods and services.
BUSH PLAN IMPACT
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection
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