Editorial

Abstract

The migratory processes are consubstantial to the evolution of the social groups that have constituted our civilization throughout its history. The navigation trips of the late fifteenth century were the substrate of the first attempt at globalization of Western culture. They brought as a consequence (among others) that the heirs of the cradle of our specie were enslaved by the descendants of those who emigrated from it. A very particular case is the one in North America. The dispossession of an immense area of northern Mexico by the United States, drew an imaginary line (although coercive) that divided areas with homogeneous cultures north and south of it. The deterioration of living conditions in Mexico, a consequence of unequal economic exchange, has generated a migraory phenomenon that is perceived more as a vindication of alienated rights than as a challenge to the status quo.

These issue show us from different disciplines and perspectives the topic of migration: its causes, effects and consequences both for expelling governments and recipients of immigrants, and above all, for the population of undocumented immigrants, who in their search for a better life and reach the “American dream” are victims of discrimination, racism, xenophobia, trafficking in persons, and in addition, are stereotyped with an image of “criminals” or “rapists”, as well as those responsible for the economic crises that have faced developed countries, especially the United States, without there being a deep and solid explanation about the origin of these migrations in the global era, and without recognizing the contributions that migrants have made to their country of origin. In that sense, the governments of both Mexico and the United States face new challeng­es to solve the negative consequences of this migratory process, as well as to offer better opportunities to their citizens.