Examining Push and Pull Factors Among Oaxacan Immigrants and Their Relatives: A Comparative Case Study

According to the 2020 Census Bureau, there were over 62 million Hispanic/Latino individuals in the United States. The largest subgroup within this population was Mexicans, accounting for 58 percent. Oaxacan migration accounts for a small percentage of Mexican citizens migrating to the United States. Arkansas's estimated Hispanic/Latino immigrant population is about 266,000, representing 8.8 percent to 9.2 percent of the state's total population. Mexican immigrants are the largest group of foreign-born residents in Arkansas, representing roughly 38 percent of immigrants in 2023.

Objectives: The current study aimed to examine Everett S. Lee’s push and pull theory. More specifically, this study examined the push and pull factors that influenced migration decisions to the U.S. among Oaxacan immigrants and compared them to the factors that influenced their relatives' decision to stay in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Method: Our targeted sample consisted of 27 adult Oaxacan immigrants currently living in Arkansas and 15 adult Oaxacan relatives residing in Oaxaca, Mexico. This study employed a comparative case study design with a mixed-methods approach, including face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews and surveys conducted both online and on paper.

Results: We found that economic push and pull factors were the most influential factors that drove Oaxacan immigrants to migrate to Arkansas. While economic factors were the most prominent among Oaxacan immigrants, 80 percent of these factors had an underlying social component. Conversely, social stay factors were the most influential in deterring Oaxacan relatives from migrating to the U.S.