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Abstract
Mexican migration to the United States is increasingly debated in the public arena, mainly as a result of its sustained high-density flow and vast distribution nationwide. While this growing population has been negatively portrayed in several political and media campaigns, the grassroots organizations forged by these migrants have received less attention. This article examines the increasing civic and political participation of Mexican migrants organized through hometown associations (HTAS), the most prevalent form of voluntary-sector activity among first-generation Mexican migrants in the United States. It focuses on two metropolitan areas, Los Angeles and Chicago, the two major cities with the highest concentrations of Mexican migrants and HTAS in the United States. The article assesses Mexican migrant participation in U.S. politics and civic life through membership in HTAS, showing that these organizations have been a powerful force for social support for their members in the United States, as well as an important mechanism for philanthropic work in Mexico.Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
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