Self-selection among undocumented immigrants from Mexico

Pia Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny

No 5, Working Papers from Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of changes in migration determinants on the skill level of undocumented immigrants from Mexico. We focus on the effect of changes in economic conditions, migrant networks, and border enforcement on the educational attainment of Mexican-born men who cross the border illegally. Although previous research indicates that illegal aliens from Mexico tend to be unskilled relative to US natives and that economic conditions, networks and border enforcement affect the size of illegal immigrant flows across the border, the interaction of these variables has not been investigated. Results from hazard models using data from the Mexical Migration Project indicate that improvements in US and Mexican economic conditions are associated with relatively less-skilled undocumented immigrants. Stricter border enforcement is associated with higher skill levels. Access to a network of previous immigrants appears to lower the cost of migrating but has no differential effect by skill level.

Keywords: undocumented immigrants; illegal aliens; Mexican migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2000
Note: Published as: Orreninus, Pia M. and Madeline Zavodny (2005), "Self-Selection Among Undocumented Immigrants from Mexico," Journal of Development Economics 78 (1): 215-240.
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Journal Article: Self-selection among undocumented immigrants from Mexico (2005)
Working Paper: Self-selection among undocumented immigrants from Mexico (2001)
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