Cross Border Migration as a Poverty Alleviation Strategy; a Comparative Study between Immigrants from Zimbabwe to South Africa and Mexico to United States of America

Abstract

This paper maps out the strategy that both Zimbabweans and Mexicans use to migrate to their neighboring countries in order to alleviate poverty. Both South Africa and United States of America have witnessed an increase in a cross-border migration whereby illegal and legal migrants cross the border to find greener pastures in different parts of the countries. Limpopo shares the borders with Zimbabwe and in the United States; California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas share the borders with Mexico. The high flow of immigrants to South Africa from Zimbabwe and United States of America from Mexico is mainly caused by the economic hardships in their home countries. Most migrants are youth, both males and females, and adult males who left their families back home and came to South Africa and America to find work and be able to support their siblings and children back in Zimbabwe and in Mexico. This is a conceptual paper; therefore, the author identifies the gap and relies on what is already documented but not addressing the issues of migration and poverty. The study aims to show the similarities between the Mexican immigrants and Zimbabwean immigrants while looking at how poverty encourages international human mobility. Findings from the study demonstrate that poverty is a push factor to migration. A large number of people from poor countries migrate to countries with good economies and opportunities with the aim of being employed so they can support their families in their own countries and some even start businesses and investments.