Internal and Return Mobility Patterns among Mexico-U.S. Migrants in Historical Perspective

Eduardo Torre-Cantalapiedra, El Colegio de México
Silvia Giorguli-Saucedo, El Colegio de México

The mobility patterns of Mexicans in US all throughout the XX Century to date vary in time and depend on the personal attributes of migrants. Using longitudinal data from the Mexican Migration Project, we describe the residential changes (internal or return migration) of Mexican men after their first arrival to US and how they vary by migration stage (Braceros, pre-IRCA and post-IRCA). We estimate discrete-time logistic models to analyze how the probabilities of either type of movement vary by time since arrival, documentation status and occupation in US. We include macroeconomic indicators to capture how the patterns and profiles change according to the economic trends. The Bracero period showed the highest probabilities of moving to another state or of returning. Working in the agricultural sector and the documentation status are related to specific mobility patterns; the first effect is constant in time and the second varies by migration stage.