| | |  Americas & Beyond | February 2009 
Some Immigrants Opting to Return to Mexico
 Las Vegas Now
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| | Armando, 54, of Honduras, was waiting in Huntington Station (Long Island) but had no luck finding a contractor to hire him. He said he warns relatives not to go to the US for jobs. (Dave Marcus/NewsDay) | |
Some Mexican immigrants who came to the U.S. in search of a better life are packing up and moving back to their native country, as many are having doubts about staying in Las Vegas.
Thousands of legal and illegal immigrants have lost their jobs and aren't making enough to survive and send money back home.
"It's been kind of hard for the Mexican community, especially in the last few months, because of the layoffs with the construction workers. There's fear because they don't have a job right now and some of them are returning to Mexico," said Mexican Consulate Fernando de la Torre.
The Mexican Consulate for Nevada says in recent months they have seen an increase in the number of people opting to go back to Mexico. Their economy is hurting over there, but many Mexican immigrants have a family support system back home.
For some, it's more profitable to move back to Mexico. President Felipe Calderon has budgeted $25 billion into building highways and bridges, so construction jobs will be available.
Still, the consulate says the majority are sticking it out in Las Vegas, not willing to go back and give up opportunities.
"I want to live here because of my kids, so they can study, go to school and in Mexico, you have to work much more," said Marco Gonzalez.
The majority of Mexican immigrants make it a priority to send money back to their families in Mexico. In the last three months, the amount of money sent over the border has dropped 30-percent.
For the time being, the Mexican Consulate says struggling families are helping each other out and many don't want to leave because of the deep roots they've set in Las Vegas. |
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