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Does border enforcement deter unauthorized immigration? The case of Mexican migration to the United States of America

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  • Wayne A. Cornelius
  • Idean Salehyan

Abstract

This paper asks whether the migration decisions of unauthorized Mexican immigrants to the USA have been influenced by stronger US border enforcement efforts since 1993 that have sharply increased the physical risk and financial cost of illegal immigration. These measures were supposed to have decreased the probability of successful entry, thereby lowering the expected benefits of migration. We carried out a logistic regression analysis of data from a recent survey of 603 returned migrants and potential first‐time migrants in rural Mexico. Our findings indicate that tougher border controls have had remarkably little influence on the propensity to migrate illegally to the USA. Political restrictions on immigration are far outweighed by economic and family‐related incentives to migrate. An alternative, labor‐market approach to immigration control with higher probability of effectiveness is outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Wayne A. Cornelius & Idean Salehyan, 2007. "Does border enforcement deter unauthorized immigration? The case of Mexican migration to the United States of America," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 1(2), pages 139-153, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:1:y:2007:i:2:p:139-153
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5991.2007.00007.x
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    1. Gordon H. Hanson & Antonio Spilimbergo, 2001. "Political economy, sectoral shocks, and border enforcement," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(3), pages 612-638, August.
    2. Wayne A. Cornelius, 2001. "Death at the Border: Efficacy and Unintended Consequences of US Immigration Control Policy," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 27(4), pages 661-685, December.
    3. Daniel Chiquiar & Gordon H. Hanson, 2005. "International Migration, Self-Selection, and the Distribution of Wages: Evidence from Mexico and the United States," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(2), pages 239-281, April.
    4. Rudolph, Christopher, 2003. "Security and the Political Economy of International Migration," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 97(4), pages 603-620, November.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Joshua Bedi, 2024. "Fake marriages, asylum, and gas station robberies: institutional determinants of migrants' strategies," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 45-72, March.

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