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Climate Change Fuels Migration Between Mexico and the U.S.
A new study reveals how extreme weather in Mexico drives undocumented migration to the U.S., highlighting the need for global collaboration to address climate change's impact on migration.
English
United States
Climate ChangeLatin AmericaEnvironmentMigrationRefugees And MigrationBorder SecuritySocial Inequality
Proceedings Of The National Academy Of SciencesPrinceton UniversityDuke UniversityStanford UniversityUniversity Of CaliforniaIrvine
Filiz GaripKerilyn SchewelHélène BenvenisteMichael MéndezDonald Trump
- What data did researchers analyze to reach their conclusions?
- Researchers analyzed daily weather data and survey responses from nearly 48,000 people between 1992 and 2018, focusing on those who crossed the border without documentation for the first time. They correlated migration and return decisions with weather patterns in Mexican agricultural communities.
- What recommendations do experts offer in response to the study's findings?
- Experts emphasize the need for global collaboration to address climate change's impact on migration. They call for focusing not only on border security but also on understanding the reasons for migration and the demand for immigrant labor in the U.S.
- How does the study address the issue of climate change and social inequality?
- The study highlights the inequities of climate adaptation, showing that not everyone is impacted or responds to extreme weather in the same way. Social and economic factors, such as financial status and pre-existing migration networks, influence migration decisions alongside climate-related stressors.
- What challenges do undocumented migrants face when considering returning to Mexico?
- Increased border surveillance and enforcement make returning to Mexico more difficult for undocumented migrants, even when weather conditions improve in their home communities. Many find themselves living in precarious situations in the U.S., further compounding their vulnerability.
- What is the main finding of the study regarding extreme weather and migration between Mexico and the United States?
- The study reveals that extreme weather, particularly droughts, in Mexico significantly increases undocumented migration to the U.S. People from drought-stricken agricultural areas were more likely to cross the border illegally and less likely to return.