Stupid question: Why aren't Central American children stopping in Mexico?

[BlueCheese]

I've wondered recently about all the children from Central American that are turning up at the U.S. border. Obviously they're escaping some kind of violence or poverty in their home countries and their parents are hoping for a better life for them here.

My (uninformed) question is, why are they trying to come to the United States, instead of stopping in Mexico? It would save them a risky journey through Mexico to the United States, and they would also already know the local language.

I can think of a few possible reasons, but I don't know if any of them are the right ones:
a) A lot of them already do stop in Mexico, and we don't hear about those.
b) Mexico doesn't have the opportunities they seek.
c) Mexico is tough on what they see as illegal immigration.

Does anyone know the answer?

Please note that I ask this out of curiosity, not as a suggestion about what the U.S. should be doing in terms of immigration policy. I'm just curious why people are risking so much to travel to an uncertain fate in the United States when there's another common-language country next door, that they already have to cross to get here.

[pnwmom]

1. Many of them are coming here to join family members who are already here. n/t

[roody]

2. Mostly b.

[LeftyMom]

3. Every nearby country has taken in refugees, including Mexico.

[COLGATE4]

4. It's a problem the Mexicans don't need or want. nt

[GOLGO 13]

5. Well have you been to Mexico lately?

I'd keep going North too.

[cbayer]

6. Have you been to Mexico lately?

It's a beautiful country full of beautiful people. There are few places on this earth as wonderful. The safety issues are isolated, just like they are in this country.

Maybe you should go for a visit before making such ugly statements.

[JanMichael]

15. Agreed

Thanks. It is a gorgeous country, and the people are lovely.

The "bad news" from there is like reading about small parts of Detroit, and thinking that is descriptive of the entire US.

[cbayer]

16. I just spent 6 months there and plan to return in late September.

I have utterly fallen in love with it.

They need tourists badly and particularly american tourists. It's upsets me when I see people say negative things about a country that they don't really know.

If you haven't seen this, Anthony Bourdain's piece on Mexico is well worth the read:

http://anthonybourdain.tumblr.com/post/84641290831/under-the-volcano

[cbayer]

7. I think it's mostly b and some c.

There are many central americans in Mexico trying to establish residency or find work, but there is not enough work for them and the Mexicans are pretty focused on taking care of their own.

Also, as others have pointed out, many have family in the US and are trying to get to them.

[Nye Bevan]

8. See

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD

[Chan790]

9. I don't see your point.

Our GDP is better than Mexico's but our C of L is much much more expensive and Mexico's trend-curve is better than ours...as a result, Mexico's opportunity to immigrants would be better than ours; stronger growth, lower economic buy-in in terms of cost-of-living.

Unless you point was purely that our GDP/capita is higher which is a foolish way to approach such an analysis...Switzerland's is much much better than ours and I strongly advise against emigrating to Switzerland unless you already have roots there.

[Nye Bevan]

11. I think I can figure out why these folks are coming to the US as opposed to Switzerland (nt)

[Chan790]

12. My point is neither is a very good idea compared to Mexico.

They have a chance at riding the prosperity up in Mexico...they have no real possibility of escaping poverty here.

[hack89]

10. Mexico has much stricter immigration laws than we do.

they put illegal immigrants in prison, especially if they have false papers.

[MindPilot]

13. We (the US) only have the ones who made it this far.

Who knows what horrors may have befallen those along the way who didn't make it. Think about that when you want to send 'em back where they came from.

I've heard the orphanages in Mexico, especially the border cities, are well over capacity.

[Marr]

14. I'm not convinced this is a new issue at all.

It came right out of the blue and coincides nicely with the political sales of the season.

[AgingAmerican]

17. Mexico is drug cartel infested

The cartels kidnap immigrants and hold them for ransom, make them slaves or force them to carry drugs. It is a very bad time for any immigrants in Mexico right now.