Central Asian migrants at the US-Mexico border: An exploration of causes

Abstract

Migrants from as far as Central Asia have been apprehended at the US-Mexico border often claiming asylum. This research note indicates that the sudden surge of Central Asian asylum seekers in 2021 and 2022—which reached historic highs at the US-Mexico border—most likely consists largely of economic migrants with access to the financial means and information required for this journey. I have attributed the causes of migration to several pull factors. First, the overall US employment growth, low unemployment rates, and availability of well-paid jobs in the United States of America (USA) even for low-skilled workers have increased people’s aspirations to earn high salaries in a short period of time. Second, the proliferation of multinational migrant smuggling networks now includes Russian-speaking communities. Third, the changes in immigration policy, first, during the Trump administration, allowed an unlimited number of attempts to cross the border without penalty, and the Biden administration increased apprehensions with the consequent release of migrants after a short time in custody.