Mexican communities, hurting from drop in remittances, expect few family members home for the holidays
By Alfredo Corchado
The Dallas Morning News
It's that time of year, when largely abandoned communities in Mexico show signs of life with the return of thousands of immigrants bearing gifts and a longing to reconnect with their homeland.
But this year the parties will probably be more subdued than usual.
The struggling economy in both the United States and Mexico and drug-related violence south of the border are expected to keep away many of the 1 million or so expatriates who normally return annually for the holidays.
"I've told my daughter, as painful as it sounds, stay away," said Perla García de Valencia, whose daughter, Isabela, lives near Waco. "Mexico is not safe, and where are the jobs? There's nothing here in Mexico."
Central Guanajuato state has a large population of its sons and daughters living in North Texas. In Dolores Hidalgo, tucked in the hills of Guanajuato, residents are bracing for a lean and lonely winter. In addition to staying away, immigrants are sending less money home through remittances, and civic leaders are concerned.
Mayor Pablo González Cansino estimates that 25,000 former residents of Dolores Hidalgo now live in Texas. The city, along with surrounding communities, has a population of 147,000.
Usually about 3,000 people return for Christmas, but this year the mayor expects only half that number. The area is already hurting financially because of the drop in remittances, he said, and worries about drug violence are keeping many away.
"Having people return to their land helps families and their pain of separation, and it helps our economy, too," González said.
The government announced this month that money sent from abroad through remittances plunged 35.8 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, to $1.6 billion from a record $2.6 billion in 2008.
In Dallas, authorities say the stream of immigrants seeking permits to return home is steady. But in Mexican states with large immigrant populations in North Texas, the holiday boost is expected to be smaller this year.
"We expect less people and less money this year," said Victoria Labastida, mayor of San Luis Potosí. "And that's unfortunate because these migrants aren't just our pride and joy, but they also represent Santa Claus for so many families who anxiously wait for the holidays to see their loved ones."
During the Christmas season, it's not unusual for immigrants to return driving new vehicles packed with everything from bicycles, TVs, computers and cash.
"There will be other holidays," said Lucia Jimenez. "But no one is happy about being apart this year."
