Abstrakt
This work presents a framework for comparison of Mexican immigration in the United States with immigration from EU-8 Member States (post-transition economies of the Central and Eastern Europe that joined the EU in 2004) to the EU-15 countries. First, the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Preaccession agreements of the EU and other accession countries are analyzed and common features are vivisected.
Second, the flows of Mexican immigration to the United States (legal and illegal) as well as immigration from EU-8 states are described. Similarities and differences are analyzed and discussed.Third, some conclusions are made and lessons from EU Eastern Enlargement are derived.
It appears that similar to the EU Enlargement in May 2004, gradual opening of the U.S. labor market for those Mexicans who are willing to live and work in the United States will not dramatically increase immigration. Similarly to the 2004 EU Eastern Enlargement, when the accession of 10 New Member States made it possible for their citizens to live and work legally in selected EU countries, the migration wave appeared to be smaller than expected.
In addition to that, many Mexicans have already made their way to the United States pushed by hard conditions at home and pulled by the social ties to compatriots' communities. Despite many differences between Mexican migration to the U.S and Eastern European migrations to the EU-15, many similarities are found that make the appeal for opening the borders even more justifiable than it seems.