Issues in International Political Economy - Mexico-U.S. Non-Discussion of Migration - March 2010 - Number 123

In a world of sovereign states, nations are free to determine which foreigners, and how many, they will allow to enter their country and how long they will be permitted to stay. Recommendations that these decisions should be negotiated between sending and receiving countries are therefore unlikely to be accepted by receiving countries unless they want more foreign workers. Mexican officials and opinion leaders frequently blur the line between the “right” to negotiate on U.S. immigration policy and the expectation that when Mexican demands are made, they will be met.The United States has had a mishmash of immigration policies (perhaps better called de facto realities) that are confusing.One upshot of the inconsistent national policies is that there is little meaningful discussion between the governments of Mexico and the United States on migration policy, despite the fact that it is one of the most important issues in the relationship.