Mexico, Migration, & WisconsinEugene Boyd12/10/2007Young adult malesEconomic motivations- lack of opportunities- improve family life through financial means“No work, no money to live (in Mexico)”Plan on returning to MexicoTime spent in US is only a postponement of life in Mexico2000 Census of Population & HousingUS Census Bureau2000 Census of Population & HousingUS Census Bureau0%5%10%15%20%25%Hispanic Share of Total PopulationUSWisconsinTelephone – use of phone cardsLetters – literacy constraintsRemittances - $ sent and receivedDirect Travel – expensive (missed wages & “ride guy”)- risk of being arrested negating future returns to US- with family & friends, monitor finances, reevaluate needs Others Who Travel – bring gifts, photos, foodInternet – email & webcam- children remember their father’s face and voiceQuickest and easiest way to keep in touch- “…always easy as long as there is a phone in the house”- Majority of calls are US to Mexico-Predetermined date & time to call- One call every 3-14 days; typically once a week- Conversations last typically 30-90 minutesApprox. $5 for 90 minutes- “…food, laundry, phone cards.”Phone card scams- a call is placed but no one answers- “ A lot of phone cards are rip-offs.”Supermercado Sandoval - sells about 200 phone cards a week- more than 2 complaints and the card gets pulledTlaquilpa (3)- Incoming phone call; 3 phone lines- Loudspeaker announcement into center of town- 5 minutes before a message is taken; callback information- Network of neighbors- Surrounding rural areas have radios to receive messagesCenter of TlaquilpaAstacinga- Inocencia Sanchez- 8 years; open 7 am – 10 pm- Loudspeaker; callback information- 6 phones- Calls: From US ($0.05/min), To Us ($1.00/min), Mexico ($0.50/min)- Schools, hospitals, and employers understand importanceCaseta in AstacingaWife- Everyday issues- If $ is being received- If the kids are healthyChildrenFather- How his business is - If he is happy and being treated wellSiblings (in Mexico & in US)Father-in-Law- Progress of house being built- Additional supplies & resources neededNo Communication…1) No one to contact2) No longer plan on returning3) Never arrived at destination“ They are our families and they remember us”- Maintaining social ties with those who care and understand- An opportunity to reenter their “normal” and familiar lives- An elimination of the border- A reminder, a highlight, and a motivation/inspiration“It would be the same for you too…, it’s only logical”“Asked why he walked 6 miles every week to a phone booth in rural Illinois to call his family, the Mexican migrant replied,… ‘He’s six years old and I want him to know that I’m his father, you know? I want to be a part of his life. I think when you can’t live with somebody they go away’.”Stodolska & Santos (2006)Homesick Depression LonesomenessAnxiety Guiltiness InfidelitySubstance dependenceNegative effects on…1) Overall quality of life2) Job performance3) Leisure timeImproved Telecommunications- Accessibility- Education- TechnologyQ u e s t i o n s ?S p e c i a l T h a n k Yo uPeople of Tlaquilpa & Astacinga(both in Mexico & United States)Citizens of Western WisconsinShaun DuvallDr. KaldjianFellow