From Texas Public Radio:
When Alejandro Mazar, an immigration lawyer specializing in cross-border contract negotiations, corporate services and immigration law, moved from Monterrey, Mexico, to The Woodlands, Texas, in the summer of 2015, the US was in the middle of an election cycle.
As he and his family were settling into their new home, Mazars said the political tensions of the time “created a vicious cycle of learned helplessness and confusion” that made him feel uneasy about living the American dream.
Mazars, who has dual citizenship, has voted in every U.S. election after living in the U.S. for 10 years but has never voted in Mexico. “I honestly don't feel like I'm ready to follow the political and social currents of both countries,” he said, referring to the “hashtag MAGA.” [movement] Drain [his] “Energy in politics.”
Texas is home to about 8 million people of Mexican descent, many of whom were born south of the border and have family members who remain deeply involved in Mexico's political and economic affairs.
Nearly 100 million Mexicans will vote this Sunday in historic elections that will see two women running for president from major political parties for the first time.
Texans have a strong interest in Mexico's upcoming elections, the outcome of which could have lasting effects on Texas-Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations.
The outcome of the election could, for example, affect remittance flows, which surged to $63 billion last year.
The increase in remittances is being driven by economic factors, including inflation and economic changes in the lives of people living in Mexico. The peso (or “super peso”) is at its highest value in about seven years. The sharp rise in the value of the peso has forced immigrants living in the U.S. to work longer hours to make up for losses.
As the Texas Tribune reported, many are grateful that their families have access to government subsidies. Programs like Pension Bienestar provide about $350 to Mexican citizens over the age of 65. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's slogan, “Primero los pobres” (“The poor first”), has resonated with many across the border and helped ease the pressure, especially now that a strong peso has reduced the value of remittance dollars.
