News

Americans in Mexico

(This article was first published on November 8, 2004 - Mr. Osio's message then is as poignant today)

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico estimates that there are some 600,000 American expatriates residing in Mexico. The Democratic and Republican Party representatives in Mexico both estimate over 1 million U.S. citizens qualified to vote in Mexico. The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana officially estimates that there are over 170,000 American expatriates living in Baja California. These estimates are mere guesses since Mexico does not police undocumented Americans living in Mexico, only a fraction of whom have residential visas. Others cross the border as tourists and in the case of Baja California without any documentation at all.

In this year's election both political parties have launched vigorous campaigns to register to vote the American expatriates in Mexico by facilitating the process through their official state domicile. The strategy is to register the prospect into their party's affiliation. Obviously, in a close election, one million registered voters could tilt the election either way. After all, Gore won by a majority of 500,000 votes in 2000 although he lost the election in the Electoral College. The possibility is that American expatriates in Mexico could decide a close election.

What is equally important is that American expatriates in Mexico also are an offset to illegal immigration of Mexicans in the U.S., albeit in a smaller fraction, considering that an estimated 3 million Mexican undocumented immigrants from Mexico reside in the U.S. The majority of Americans who consider their primary residence in Mexico are retired adults who are lured by the better standard of living based on the higher purchasing power of their retirement benefits. A monthly income of $2,000 allows a retired couple twice the standard of living in Mexico, with domestic help, as is available to them in the U.S. Not to mention the availability of prescription medicines and health care at a fraction of the cost.

If the U.S. allowed the social security recipients to use their Medicare benefits in Mexico, Medicare would save over 50% of the cost for these beneficiaries and more Americans would retire in Mexico.

Now then, why not have a balanced exchange of immigration with Mexico? We send them our retired citizens and they send us their younger workers who are crucial to our labor force. We could make the exchange in kind so that it would be equally balanced. Would this not be an equitable solution to the immigration issue?

The fact is that Mexico is a sanctuary to our American retirees and affords them a superior standard of living, also at a decreased cost for their health services. Our expatriates are bicultural, with an understanding and appreciation for Mexico, its people and traditions. They are our ambassadors of good will and could decide a close presidential election.

By Sal Osio