VZCZCXRO7298
RR RUEHCD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHGD #0379/01 2122031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 312031Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0311
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1545
RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGD/AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA 4343

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/MEX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SMIG PGOV PREL ECON MX XM
SUBJECT: INCREASINGLY URBAN AND FEMALE CENTRAL WESTERN MEXICO 
EMIGRANT POPULATION FACES CHALLENGES 
 
REF: A.  GUADALAJARA 328, B.  GUADALAJARA 365 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000379  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  Summary:  According to recent studies, the profile of 
immigrants to the United States from Central Western Mexico has 
changed in recent years.  Immigrants from urban locales have 
been on the rise and the female percentage among this population 
has increased as well.  Academics cited the more educated, 
independent spirit of women from larger towns or cities as the 
reason for their increased mobility.  These trends have exposed 
the increased vulnerability of women and children who make the 
journey to the United States as well as those left behind in 
Mexico.  Guadalajara recently hosted a regional meeting of a 
national women's migratory network formed to address the effects 
of national and international migratory trends on women and 
families.  End Summary. 
 
Migratory Trends: More Urban, More Women, Longer Stays 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2.  It is well known that Jalisco and surrounding States are 
leading sources of Mexican emigrants to the United States (Refs 
A and B).  The profile of Mexican emigrants has changed, 
however, according to academic findings presented during recent 
regional meetings on migration.  Increased numbers of higher 
educated Mexicans from semi-urban/urban areas have emigrated to 
the United States.  Illegal immigrants have also stayed longer 
in the United States, as it has become more risky and more 
expensive to cross the border multiple times [Note: According to 
a regional government official, coyotes charge Jalisco residents 
US$2,000 to US$2,500 to take them across the border illegally. 
End Note.]  Men still dominate the percentage of Mexican 
emigrants going to the United States, but women who have gone 
have stayed longer, usually because their motivation is family 
reunification. 
 
¶3.  Urban-dwelling women comprised the majority of female 
emigrants, as they are more mobile, educated, and independent. 
A Central Western Mexico study (States of Jalisco, Colima, 
Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit) concluded that 
the male-female breakdown of emigrants varied according to the 
size of their hometown.  Males comprised the dominating majority 
of emigrants from towns with less than 50,000 residents; 
however, at least half of emigrants were female leaving towns 
with more than 50,000 residents.  The typical profile of a 
female emigrant was a married, young housewife with children: 
40% were less than 25 yrs old; 20% worked outside of the home; 
and 70% had children.  Another recent study focused solely on 
the increasing urban migration from Jalisco.  The study 
concluded that half of Jalisco emigrants left cities with 
greater than 15,000 inhabitants (30% of those originated from 
cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants--nearly all from the 
Guadalajara metro area).  About three quarters of Jalisco 
emigrants were male, with the majority being between 15 and 24 
years of age.  This study concluded that men still dominated the 
urban Jalisco emigrant population, but women emigrants were 
increasing in numbers and comprised over 30% of the total. 
 
¶4.  The Jalisco study also analyzed the specific migratory 
patterns of one of Guadalajara's lower income, working class 
neighborhoods (Colonia Constitucion).  About a quarter of 
households had family members living in the United States, with 
the overwhelming majority living in California.  Other 
significant family member destinations reported included 
Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, and Washington.  Only 
about one third of households with emigrants received 
remittances from their family members in the United States, 
suggesting that many families are left to fend for themselves. 
 
 
Women and Children Vulnerable At Home and Abroad 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5.  These recent regional studies and meetings highlight the 
plight of women and children affected by migratory patterns. 
Increased numbers of women and children are at risk during their 
travels and at their final destination, while the children that 
remain in Mexico are often left without either parent.  Men 
dominate the support networks that do exist in the United States 
(e.g., migrant liaison groups named "Clubs Jalisco"), while 
women are commonly isolated at home with limited access to 
healthcare and education.  When deported, family members are 
sometimes split up and may end up working in a border factory or 
subject to sexual violence, trafficking in persons, or child 
labor.  In addition, significant emotional problems are created 
by the absence of a child's father or family separation, 
including spousal conflicts and mental/physical child abuse at 
the hands of new head of household figure once their father or 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000379  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
both parents are gone. 
 
Women's Migratory Network Trying to Get Organized 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶6.  In May 2007, Guadalajara hosted the second regional meeting 
of a national network trying to assist women suffering from the 
negative effects of migration (Red para la Atencion de Mujeres 
afectadas por el Fenomeno Migratorio [Network Focusing Attention 
on Women Affected by the Migratory Phenomenon]).  This Central 
States (Zona Centro) meeting was one of three national meetings 
that sought a coordinated solution to protect the human rights 
of women and children affected by migration.  Non-profit, 
academic, religious, and civic organizations comprise the 
majority of this network seeking to alleviate the problems women 
and children face as a result of urban migration within Mexico, 
emigration to the United States, and transit migration of 
Central Americans through Mexico.  This network is working with 
the government's Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INAMI) 
[National Institute of Migration] and Instituto Nacional de las 
Mujeres [National Institute of Women].  Quintana Roo hosted the 
first meeting for the southern region (Zona Sur) States in 
October 2006.  The next meeting will take place in Northern 
Mexico (Zona Norte). 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  Comment:  While families in Jalisco and the surrounding 
States receive a significant amount of remittances from the 
United States, the money does not appear to be enough to stop 
more and more women from emigrating to the United States or to 
solve the emotional strain on separated families.  Increased 
female emigration seems to have created a host of new problems 
for family members at home and abroad.  The creation of this 
women's network, with the support of the national government, 
brings much needed attention to women and children's issues. 
The scope of the network's plans, however, seems a bit ambitious 
given the variety of migratory problems facing Mexico.  Only 
time will tell if this network will be empowered and focused 
enough to take specific actions to alleviate existing problems. 
End Comment. 
 
(Cleared:  Amembassy Mexico:CONS:MBishop,USAID:RGarner, 
ECON:LKirkconnell, POL:CBarclay) 
MELZOW