One thing cannot be hidden: there is a large portion of American citizens who can no longer live under the yoke of Donald Trump. Call them ExPats, Migrants, or Immigrants, there are thousands of them and they are integrating into Mexican life one hundred percent.
Many already order their “chelas,” their “spicy” tacos, pronounce “pinche” or “cabrón” without hesitation, and even say “está muy buena” when they see an attractive girl.
Social media is full of reels, videos, or posts from people from all corners of the United States, and they have a question for their fellow citizens: Can you give me advice on moving to a city (quiet or not) and list their basic needs?
According to estimates from the U.S. State Department, around 1.6 million American citizens live in Mexico, although this figure may include people who are not here permanently. Data from the 2020 Mexican census indicated a lower figure of 797,000 expatriates, but the actual number is believed to be higher due to migration for remote work and people living in the country on tourist visas.
It is not known exactly how many have moved since Trump became president, but what is clear is that Americans are now part of the Mexican landscape. They can be seen on the streets, on public transportation, in restaurants, cafes, parks, museums—everywhere. It is a new migration, very different from the one that existed before Covid and also different from the one that arrived afterward, the famous digital nomads.
Some are seeking to escape the social pressures experienced in the United States, others from economic pressures, and still others because the social climate is already saturated.
Groups like ExPats in Mexico have more than 200,000 members. There, Americans share information, invite them to meetings, and ask basic questions. Also, some show off their Mexican partners, who are now fully acclimated.
In Mexico, the topic of gentrification has been discussed; many Mexicans are upset by rising rents and the abuses of other Mexicans who raise those rents and offer them only in English.
ExPats communities offer several pieces of advice: try to speak Spanish and treat Mexicans as nicely as possible. Many, if not all, emphasize the good treatment they receive from the Mexican population. Therefore, we could even speak of a synergy between Americans and Mexicans, where despite the differences, they are now one and the same.
It has been reported that Mexican consulates in the United States have waiting lists for regularization procedures, and numerous Americans post on social media happily bragging about having received their permanent residency.
This is a recent phenomenon, and it is not expected to end soon, but rather to spread.
US citizens do not require a tourist visa to enter Mexico and are entitled to a stay of up to 180 days per visit. There are also visas for temporary residents, which allow them to live in the country beyond that period, but for less than four years. The number of these visas has doubled in the last two years. Among the total number of Americans residing in Mexico, there are also irregular or undocumented migrants.
According to Doris Speer, president of the Association of Americans Living Abroad (AARO), Mexico is a viable option for US migrants.
People choose Mexico because they can be close to their families, as is the case with retirees, or those who work from home. Furthermore, Spanish is already a more widely used language in the country, so many people who have learned it choose to move south to take advantage of their skills.
