Back home: undocumented mexican migrants that returned from the United States voluntarily

Objective: This paper analyzes the reasons that made Mexican immigrants return to their countries of origin freely and independently. Theoretical framework: The theoretical review of the study includes a discussion on the phenomenon of immigration and its impacts, as well as on the relationship between migration and labor relations in the dynamics between the United States and Mexico. Methodology: Qualitative research was carried out involving twenty interviews with Mexican university students who worked in the United States and returned to Mexico spontaneously, without the occurrence of deportation. Results: The results indicate that the main motivation to migrate to the United States is economic. However, immigrants live with low-skill jobs, with a high workload and of an informal nature, leaving them without any protection in terms of health and citizenship. In addition, the desire to study is considered by immigrants as one of the main reasons that make them return to their country of origin. The results also show that studies on immigration in general and Mexican immigration in particular should not be limited to discussions only in the economic dimension, even though the initial impulse of immigrants to move across international borders is the search for better financial conditions. Originality: Mexican immigration to the United States has been the subject of numerous studies since the 1980s, but the vast majority of this debate addresses the motivations of individuals to migrate, and not to return to the country of origin. Contributions: This study is relevant in contributing to the understanding of the motivations that lead Mexicans to migrate to the United States and return freely, an aspect little discussed in the literature in the area. The study also advances by showing that, even with better wages, other factors besides pecuniary also impact the immigrant's decision to return to the country of origin.