The Ties that Bind Us Mexican Migrants in San Diego County

The Ties That Bind Us addresses the difficult living and working conditions of Mexican migrant workers in San Diego County, California, considering policy implications for both sides of the US-Mexico border. The authors highlight the circumstances of individuals who, seeking to escape poverty, come to San Diego hoping to exchange hard work for a chance to get ahead - and who often meet rampant discrimination, substandard and severely overcrowded housing, a paucity of appropriate health information and services, and untenable labor condition. In exploring the migrants' situation and some of the forces that drive them into the migration stream, the authors also suggest steps for alleviating their compromised life circumstances. They argue, as well, for legalization of the migrant population so that migrants can access the full range of services available in the transborder region.