Fragmented bonds: urban migration from Mexico City to the US

Abstract

By using qualitative data and a representative survey of Valle de Chalco-Solidaridad, a municipality on the periphery of Mexico City, this article provides fresh information on urban migration to the U.S. and the role of social networks in urban settings. The article critically reviews previous theoretical assumptions about the nature of the role of social networks in organizing migration flows. Even if the municipality is very homogeneous in terms of poverty and employment opportunities, the article demonstrates that variations on the socio-demographic profile of the would-be emigrants to the US depend on household´s social networks. Our data suggests that urban females may organize their own autonomous social networks, the higher educated in cities value their future in Mexico (and only try the adventure further north when they have the support of social networks), and the irrelevance of territorial attachments for understanding urban migration from Mexico.

Keywords: social networks, international migration, Mexico-US migration, Mexico City.