Most illegal immigrants from Mexico in the United States already had jobs at home. That's according to a new study by the Pew Hispanic Center. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, the study suggests simply creating more jobs in Mexico will not reduce illegal immigration.
The study provides a portrait of migrants as they enter the U.S. workforce.
It is based on responses to a questionnaire by almost 5000 Mexican migrants living in seven U.S. cities.
It shows the vast majority already had jobs in Mexico they had little trouble finding new ones in the United States and family and friends played key roles in helping migrants find employment.
Pew Hispanic Center director Roberto Suro says migrants come to the U.S. to improve their earnings.
You can see people roughly doubling their earnings coming here, but beyond that, one of the motives is not just wages, but also you've got a lot of families that are now divided between Mexico and the United States.
Suro says policies aimed at improving economic conditions in Mexico must also address wages and opportunities for advancement. Amy Isackson, KPBS news.
