Mexican diaspora 4.0. Economic power, digital voting, and citizenship in the age of border closures

Talking about the future of Mexicans in the United States means discussing identity, rights, and technology at the same time. The Mexican diaspora—nearly 39 million people between those born in Mexico and those of Mexican descent—supports increasingly sophisticated economic and civic ties, even as it faces a more restrictive political environment that demands intelligent policy responses on both sides of the border.

In 2024, remittances once again showed their strength: Mexico received $64.7 billion, a historic maximum and 2.3% more than in 2023. Studies by BBVA and CONAPO estimate that these flows already represent around 3.7% of GDP and directly sustain 1.7 million households. Far from being mere “sentimental money,” remittances have become a macroeconomic and social stabilizer, financing consumption, housing, and microenterprises. But the trend slowed in 2025: in April, Mexico registered its sharpest monthly drop in nearly 13 years (-12.1% year-on-year), a warning sign fueled by weaker labor dynamics and growing fear among migrants.

Civic power also grew. In Mexico’s 2024 federal election, the vote from abroad reached 184,376 ballots for the presidency, with participation through internet, postal, and in-person voting at consular offices. This hybrid architecture normalized transborder participation and marked a turning point for the representation of the diaspora in national decision-making.

Citizenship—both legal and lived—is shifting. The naturalization rate of Mexican-born individuals in the United States rose to 35.2% in 2022 (from 22.9% in 2010), and Mexico was the top country of birth for new naturalizations in 2024 (13.1% of the total). This growth reflects the maturation of residency periods, grassroots campaigns, and reduced administrative backlogs, consolidating a “binational” identity rooted in communities across California, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois.

But 2025 has reordered the landscape. After a policy shift in Washington, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canceled in January the use of the CBP One app to schedule port-of-entry appointments—an instrument that, despite criticism, had helped organize migration flows. The federal government simultaneously toughened border and visa controls. The combined effect: fewer regular crossings and greater uncertainty, just as the U.S. economy continues to need labor.

Not everything points to closure. On the family reunification front, the “Keeping Families Together” program (parole in place for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens) rolled out in August 2024 and remains active in 2025. At the same time, DACA continues to process renewals, even though new applications remain frozen under court order. Both measures provide relief for mixed-status Mexican families, but their scope remains limited and vulnerable to legal challenges.

From Mexico, diaspora policy has become more technical. Programs from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME)—such as IME Scholarships and Ventanillas de Salud—expanded in 2025, while consulates reinforced secure identification and digital services. Universities like UNAM (PUED) and UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Institute have documented that the “Mexican-American” identity is no longer transitional but constitutive: the majority of children in Mexican-origin households are now U.S.-born, forming a citizenry that will increasingly exercise its weight at the polls and in markets.

Technology and costs matter. Digitalization and competition have kept average transfer costs on the U.S.–Mexico corridor relatively low (around 3–4% among digital providers), though the global average remains closer to 6%. Every point of reduction releases hundreds of millions of dollars back into Mexican households. This is a clear binational agenda: interoperability of payment systems, digital ID verification, and consumer protection in remittances.

The diaspora’s potential will depend on three balances. Political, because tougher migration policies in the U.S. risk clashing with labor market needs and acquired rights; Mexico must intensify not only consular defense but also strategic economic diplomacy. Economic, because the resilience of remittances is not guaranteed if employment slows or if new taxes on transfers emerge; it is essential to diversify savings and investment instruments for recipient households and link remittances to housing, education, and local entrepreneurship. Technological, because binational identity is already expressed through digital voting, online services, and fintech: if both governments standardize secure digital identities, simplify naturalization, and professionalize labor mobility (through TN visas and credential recognition), the diaspora will be a driver of regional competitiveness under USMCA, rather than a hostage to short-term politics. In short, more effective citizenship, less border friction. That is the possible future.

Written by: Editorial

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