Chinese immigration to Mexico began during the colonial era and has
continued to the present day. However, the largest number of migrants
to Mexico have arrived during two waves: the first spanning from the
1880s to the 1940s and another, reinvigorated wave of migrants
arriving since the early 21st century. Between 1880 and 1910, during
the term of President Porfirio DÃaz, the Mexican government was
trying to modernize the country, especially in building railroads and
developing the sparsely populated northern states. When the government
could not attract enough European immigrants, it was decided to allow
Chinese migrant workers into the country. At first, small Chinese
communities appeared mostly in the north of the country, but by the
early 20th century, Chinese communities could be found in many parts
of the country, including the capital of Mexico City. By the 1920s,
the number of Chinese in the country was about 26,000.However, strong
anti-Chinese sentiment, especially in Sonora and Sinaloa, led to
deportations and illegal expulsions of Chinese-Mexican families in the
1930s with an official count of 618 Chinese-Mexicans by 1940. Soon
after the first wave of expulsions, efforts began to repatriate
Chinese-Mexican families, which resulted in two major returns and
various small groups returning between the late 1930s and the 1980s.
Today, there are two principal Chinese communities in Mexico: one in
Mexicali and the other in Mexico City.After decades of low numbers
migrating, the number of Chinese migrants is once again growing
rapidly. In the 2000 census 1,754 Chinese nationals were counted as
living in the country, while in the 2010 census the number of
permanent residents was up to 6,655, with a total (permanent and
temporary) migrant population of about 11,000. In 2009, the Instituto
Nacional de Migración granted 2,661 migratory requests from
individuals from China, while in 2010 it was 3,620, meaning growth for
one year of 36%. Of the 54,440 migrants granted permanent residency in
2013, 4,743 (8.71%) were Chinese, more than any other group except for
Americans with 12,905 (23.7%).Mexico had its highest percentage of
foreign immigrants in 1930. One reason for this is that from the 1820s
to the 1920s, Mexico was mired in political instability and civil war.
Another reason is that it did not have the vast areas of open land
that attracted farmers to places like the United States and Argentina.
Despite the small numbers, those immigrants who did come had a
profound effect on their host country economically. European and U.S.
investors came to dominate mining, oil and cash crop agriculture.
European and Chinese immigrants took over banking and wholesale
commerce as well as pioneering the industrialization of Mexico.
continued to the present day. However, the largest number of migrants
to Mexico have arrived during two waves: the first spanning from the
1880s to the 1940s and another, reinvigorated wave of migrants
arriving since the early 21st century. Between 1880 and 1910, during
the term of President Porfirio DÃaz, the Mexican government was
trying to modernize the country, especially in building railroads and
developing the sparsely populated northern states. When the government
could not attract enough European immigrants, it was decided to allow
Chinese migrant workers into the country. At first, small Chinese
communities appeared mostly in the north of the country, but by the
early 20th century, Chinese communities could be found in many parts
of the country, including the capital of Mexico City. By the 1920s,
the number of Chinese in the country was about 26,000.However, strong
anti-Chinese sentiment, especially in Sonora and Sinaloa, led to
deportations and illegal expulsions of Chinese-Mexican families in the
1930s with an official count of 618 Chinese-Mexicans by 1940. Soon
after the first wave of expulsions, efforts began to repatriate
Chinese-Mexican families, which resulted in two major returns and
various small groups returning between the late 1930s and the 1980s.
Today, there are two principal Chinese communities in Mexico: one in
Mexicali and the other in Mexico City.After decades of low numbers
migrating, the number of Chinese migrants is once again growing
rapidly. In the 2000 census 1,754 Chinese nationals were counted as
living in the country, while in the 2010 census the number of
permanent residents was up to 6,655, with a total (permanent and
temporary) migrant population of about 11,000. In 2009, the Instituto
Nacional de Migración granted 2,661 migratory requests from
individuals from China, while in 2010 it was 3,620, meaning growth for
one year of 36%. Of the 54,440 migrants granted permanent residency in
2013, 4,743 (8.71%) were Chinese, more than any other group except for
Americans with 12,905 (23.7%).Mexico had its highest percentage of
foreign immigrants in 1930. One reason for this is that from the 1820s
to the 1920s, Mexico was mired in political instability and civil war.
Another reason is that it did not have the vast areas of open land
that attracted farmers to places like the United States and Argentina.
Despite the small numbers, those immigrants who did come had a
profound effect on their host country economically. European and U.S.
investors came to dominate mining, oil and cash crop agriculture.
European and Chinese immigrants took over banking and wholesale
commerce as well as pioneering the industrialization of Mexico.
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