After moving to the New York area, we’ve had two successive neighbors, both Hispanic. As I’ve mentioned before, they excel at preserving their language and culture, even among their second generation.
For many other ethnic minorities, especially second-generation Chinese immigrants, whom I’m most familiar with, the process is quite different. They tend to become Americanized in both language and culture. This, however, doesn’t seem to apply to second-generation Mexican immigrants.
Recently, I’ve come to realize that perhaps Mexicans don’t quite fit the traditional concept of immigrants, given their homeland’s proximity to the U.S. and the ease with which they move between the two countries.
Traditional immigrants—those from Asia, Europe, or Africa—leave behind distant homelands, often separated by vast oceans for life. Due to the distance and financial challenges of travel, many rarely return to their homeland or see their families. For instance, I didn’t go back to Beijing for three years after arriving in the U.S. A friend of mine told me her last trip home was in 2019. My sister’s only son, a first-generation immigrant, visits his parents in China only during business trips, at most once a year. As for my daughter, a second-generation immigrant, her last trip to China was in 2013. I can see how family ties loosen with each generation.
In contrast, for many Mexicans, moving to the U.S. is akin to relocating from one city to another. Visiting their homeland is more like a day trip, and they often return home even during short holidays like Labor Day weekend. These frequent visits maintain strong family ties, cultural roots, and language skills. Their proximity to Mexico helps explain why their culture and language persist so strongly in the U.S., particularly in regions close to the border. This continuous movement reinforces their ethnic identity, allowing them to resist the assimilation pressures that others face.
The Chinese saying, 近水楼台先得月 (jìn shuǐ lóu tái xiān dé yuè), meaning “The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first,” perfectly captures this dynamic. Mexicans benefit from their homeland’s closeness, which enables them to maintain frequent contact with their families and culture—something much harder for immigrants separated by oceans.
It’s fascinating to see how geography shapes the immigrant experience, influencing cultural and language retention, racial identity, and integration in ways that challenge the traditional model of assimilation. For Mexican immigrants, the border isn’t just a dividing line; it’s a bridge that keeps them anchored and connected to both sides, allowing them to preserve the family ties and the essence of their cultural heritage—something other immigrant groups could only dream of.