The issue of immigration has stepped to the forefront of public attention in recent years and has triggered a vast number of discussions and heated political arguments at different levels of American society. Many immigrants to the United States take a variety of jobs, especially those that require more physical labor in agriculture. Demand for these types of jobs is on the rise. In fact, based on the 2004 Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Migrant Agricultural Ombudsman Report, the demand for agricultural labor is anticipated to grow between three and five percent a year for the next several years. These numbers illustrate the need to broaden the understanding of immigration and factors that contribute to it. Whether it is immigration from other countries or migration within the United States, the Ohio State University Extension Services believes that the best way to achieve understanding is by directly visiting the country which contributes the most to this phenomenon: Mexico.
According to a recent multi-state OSU Extension survey, 70 percent of the nation’s green industry’s labor force is Spanish-speaking or of Hispanic origin, and over half are from Mexico. Hispanic/Latin@ individuals make up only a sliver of Ohio’s population: 2.36 percent of nearly 11.5 million residents, according to the 2007 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, it is estimated that between 75,000 and 150,000 undocumented migrants work in Ohio, based on a national population survey by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Theses statistics illustrate certain realities about immigration in the United States, but what is the reality across the border? OSU Extension’s Ohio Latino Work Force and the Colegio de Postgraduados in Mexico City sponsored a seven-day trip for educators, industry specialists and university students. This initiative is the result of collaborative efforts between Ohio State’s Office of International Programs in Agriculture and the Colegio, Mexico’s premiere agricultural institution. The group visited Mexico City, Texcoco, Tlaxcala, Cholula, Hidalgo, Puebla and other agriculture-based communities.
The purpose of the visit was to broaden the participants’ perception and understanding of communities where Ohio agricultural immigrants are coming from to improve communication and working relationships between employers and employees. “The idea is to raise awareness of the issues as to why Mexicans are migrating to the United States, and assist those interested in the issues in developing programs to help them better serve their clientele,” Fernando Manzo-Ramos, OSU Extension and adult education specialist for the Colegio, said. “By sharing our experience working in these small communities, creating a bi-national program in Extension, education and rural development, we can help agricultural and rural communities in both countries to improve.”
The reality at the other side of the border is that, for most Mexicans, financial struggles, limited natural resources, and close social ties collide with lack of jobs in rural communities and little to no government support for agriculture. This combination pushes Mexicans to the brink of desperation; and as a result forces them to look elsewhere for a better life. “There are no jobs in Mexico. That’s why we are going to U.S.,” said Celsa Aguilar Campos, whose family lives in the small community nestled in the volcanic highlands of the state of Puebla. Her four children, who live in the United States, send $50 -$100 a month to keep the rest of the family clothed and fed. Without the support of remittances, such families would be in dire straits. In a region that gets only 350 mm of rain a year, growing crops is not an easy task. A large percentage of these communities make 45 pesos a day or less (approximately $4.50 a day). By comparison, those who emigrate and work in the United States make, on average, $10 an hour.
The Extension study tour was an eye-opening experience for those involved. From learning about Mexican history to understanding the idea of “community” to witnessing the challenges faced by farmers to experiencing the direct impacts of migration on rural communities, the participants of the tour came back to the United States with long lasting life lessons. Mexican society has thrived on a strong sense of community -- cultural beliefs, social structure and economic stability are held together by the efforts of the entire community, not just by one individual. “A long history of such relations has sometimes evolved into cultural/community bottlenecks, which can attribute to the need to migrate, and contribute to the misconception many people have about migration,” said Francisco Espinoza, OSU Extension Educator. “Lack of knowledge is the reason why we need to keep pushing and keep educating people about Mexican culture.”
