Although illegal immigration was still very much in evidence during the 1980s, Mexico did not in earnest defend its border with Guatemala, because it feared that this might interfere with trade while impeding faltering efforts to facilitate family interactions involving immigrant cohorts in both countries. Eventually, between 1993 and 1999, Mexico and Guatemala, working together organized the voluntary return of 43,000 refugees to Guatemala. For the remaining 22,000 Guatemalans thought to be in the country, Mexico implemented a migratory stabilization program, aimed at helping them to eventually gain legal residence in Mexico. In 2003, the number of documented Guatemalans in Mexico had fallen to 2,601. According to a 2000 census, 55 percent of those Guatemalans living in Mexico were to be found in Chiapas. But the indifferent attitude towards the indigenous population along the border has led to an increase in violence and abuse by the Mexican security forces, whom are not always properly charged with rooting out evidence of corruption on the part of officials on both sides of the border.
Migrants
Even after the Central American wars were brought to an end, large numbers of migrants still were trying to cross the Guatemala-Mexico border. The two neighboring countries only recently have begun to increase border security in a meaningful manner, and are still encountering several problems in achieving this. In order to better the situation, the countries must appreciate the viewpoint of its migrant population. The most prevalent categories of migrants trying to pierce the border between Mexico and the U.S. is mainly Guatemalan migrant farmers looking for seasonal work on large commercial farms, as well as Mexicans, Central and South Americans trying to make their way to the United States through Mexico.
http://www.coha.org/2008/09/mexicos-other-border-issues-affecting-mexico%E2%80%99s-dividing-line-with-guatemala/
Why are we cursed with the occupants south of the border?
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