Mexico has become a sought-after destination for a new generation of Chinese migrants looking to make a fresh start.
Just last year, Mexico granted 5,070 temporary residency visas to Chinese immigrants, which is twice the number of permits issued in 2022, according to a report by AP. Currently, Chinese nationals rank third in the list of countries applying for regulated status, following the United States and Colombia.
“I want more,” Li Daijing, a 30-year-old woman from Chengdu, Sichuan province, who moved to Mexico City told the AP. “I want to be a strong woman. I want independence.”
Chinese migrants are flocking to North American countries as part of a broader trend of people leaving China in search of new opportunities.
People from various backgrounds are joining this new wave of migration. They have different reasons for their decision. Some are motivated to leave due to the high levels of unemployment among young people. Others are scholars who are seeking better career prospects outside of the communist ideology. There are also those who are looking for investment opportunities and business ventures. Additionally, some individuals are choosing to avoid the challenges imposed by the United States.
Tan, a 50-year-old man who recently relocated to Mexico, expressed his concerns about the oppressive work environment and the overall mindset prevalent there. He believes that it’s not just about the workplace oppression but also about the mentality of the people. According to him, there is a noticeable decline in political freedom and democracy, which has profound implications on people’s well-being. As a result, life has become incredibly painful for him and others who share his perspective.
According to the United Nations, China is expected to experience a significant loss of population due to immigration. Last year, it was estimated that at least 310,000 people would leave the country, surpassing the 120,000 who emigrated in 2012.
An increasing number of migrants have discovered a path to a fresh start by embarking on a journey from Ecuador to the Mexico-US border. They are in search of asylum. Their voyage commences in Quito, where they can travel visa-free, and proceeds through the challenging Darién gap until they reach Panamá.
Panama’s immigration authorities registered a total of 15,567 Chinese citizens in the first 9 months of 2023. This marked a gradual increase from 913 crossings in January, reaching its peak with a staggering 2,588 Chinese people traversing the Darien in September of that year.
The majority of the 22,187 Chinese migrants apprehended at the US-Mexico border between January and September 2023 were single adults.
In neighborhoods like Viaducto-Piedad, close to the city’s Chinatown, a thriving community of Chinese immigrants has been established in Mexico City since the 1990s.
Monica Cinco, a specialist in Chinese migration and the general director of the EDUCA Mexico Foundation, highlighted the reasons behind the establishment of Chinese stores, beauty shops, and restaurants in certain areas. “When I asked them why,” she explained, “they would tell me it’s because we live here. We have stores for Chinese consumption, beauty shops, and restaurants just for Chinese. They live there, there is a community, and several public schools in the area have a significant Chinese population.”
