Younger, retired and with more resources, the Baby Boomers are changing the face of Mexican immigration

Mexico has not traditionally been a land with big waves of foreign immigration, like many other Latin American countries. It was the territory that received just a few European and Asian immigrants in the19th and 20th centuries, like some neighboring Caribbean and Central American nations.

But in the new millenium, things are changing. Now, more than any other Latin American country, Mexico is welcoming a new and different kind of immigrant. These immigrants are not typical; they’re different. They come from rich countries - the United States and Canada. Most of them are not young, they’re not looking for jobs, and instead, in a reverse formula, they’re bringing money and investment capital to their new country.

Many - or maybe the vast majority - of these people don’t consider themselves immigrants, because that word has long been associated with someone looking for work or a better financial situation in another country. But the reality is that they are immigrants – a new breed of immigrants, mostly from Canada and the US – and Mexico is welcoming hundred of thousands of them each year. Some scholars and “think-thanks,” in both México and the United States, estimate that the number could be as high as 7 million immigrants over the next 20 years.

The causes of this new social trend are many, and could fill many pages. What could be more interesting is to ask is how we - both Mexicans and the new guests – can get along, learn from each other and make friendly new lives together.

Mazatlán, our beloved city, has been always a territory of new arrivals. The life of Mazatlán has been linked to the trade and visitings of people from all the world for centuries, but especially in the last century from United States and Canada. Thus it is, really, a Mazatlán’s lifestyle: to meet and welcome people from all over the world into our cultura and community. As a Mazatlecan, I can say: it’s nice! It gives us a sense of the world outside our borders and makes us feel part of the global community.

Yes, Mazatlan is used to seeing many visitors and tourists - but the last five years or so have presented a new panorama, with more and more “long-term guests” and full-time residents. Currently, offical estimates say there are approximately 5,000 foreigners with a resident visa and even more that have a “prolonged stay” tourist visa. If we think in terms of Money and investment, yes, of course Mazatlán is being favored but if we see the issue with a deeper perspective, Mazatlecos could benefit more.

Yes, the culture of the Americans and Canadians is enriching ours - but I say it could be more if we interacted more with them. They’re learning from us - but we can also learn from them as they experience and interact, in and with the Mexican and Mazatlecan culture.

What’s needed are more avenues for friendship and cooperation, so we can work together to create a better city. If we can focus on this – and I’m sure it will happen - this experience of intercultural exchange will enrich our city, and therefore all of our lives.

Arturo Santamaria Gómez is a profesor at Universidad Autonóma de Sinaloa at Mazatlán. He is also the founder and director of the new Vive Sinaloa museum on the corner of Heriberto Frias & Libertad in Centro Historico, one block from the Plaza machado. Contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .