About half of American immigrants have been residing in Mexico since 2010, and 87% were already in the country before 2015, making them a relatively established population. According to data from Inegi, the number of Americans living in Mexico has more than doubled in the last two decades, from 343,591 in the year 2000 to 797,266 in 2020, becoming the largest group of immigrants in the country. It is estimated that around one million Americans live in Mexico irregularly, representing a 37.8% increase since 2015.
The presence of these irregular immigrants in Mexico is partly due to policies implemented by the Mexican government, which has facilitated the visa acquisition process, especially for retirees and individuals with stable incomes. Despite the facilitation, many choose to remain irregular, which could lead to legal issues in the future.
The arrival of digital nomads to Mexico, motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to an increase in gentrification in recent years. Thousands of foreigners, attracted by proximity to the United States and the affordable cost of living, have chosen to work remotely in Mexican cities. According to Eduardo López Macías, General Director of Restart for Mexico and Latin America, the number of digital nomads in the country has tripled since the pandemic began, with more than 90,000 foreigners residing in Mexico under this concept.
This situation presents challenges regarding the regularization of the stay of these foreigners, many of whom enter the country with tourist visas. Despite global estimates suggesting the presence of 35 million digital nomads worldwide, with 15 million coming from the United States, it is complicated to determine how many of them have exceeded the allowed time limit on their visas to reside and work full-time in Mexico.
The arrival of Americans has impacted the costs of goods and services, especially in the housing sector, which in turn has generated tensions in local communities. The interdependence between American and Mexican populations, in environments marked by inequalities and asymmetries, has highlighted the complexity of migration between the two countries.
Regarding the preferences of cities where Americans choose to live in Mexico, the most popular destinations are Baja California (17%), Chihuahua (12%), Jalisco (8%), and Tamaulipas (8%). Although there is a considerable percentage of American immigrants of Mexican descent, the trend indicates that more and more citizens of the United States are choosing to move, settle, and remain in Mexican territory.
Despite the diversification of immigrants in Mexico, with the arrival of people from Europe and Asia integrating into Mexican society, Americans continue to represent the largest group and symbolize the complexity of migratory ties between the two countries. The task of regularizing the status of these immigrants and managing coexistence in a multicultural environment presents long-term challenges.
