TIJUANA.- According to the latest immigration census by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), almost one million Americans live in Mexico illegally. That is to say, they don't have the proper visas or documents in order to live full-time in the country.

And the figure keeps growing. Compared to 2015, it's a 37.8% increase in the number of U.S. citizens who overstay their tourist permits. There were 673, 866 Americans living illegally in the country in 2015, while the current figure is at least of 934,698.

At this rate, the figure will certainly surpass 1 million officially in the coming months, if not already.

According to El Diario, Mexico would be the nation with the most Americans living out of their country illegally without being persecuted.

The majority of these are U.S. citizens who are retired "Baby Boomers." They usually only have a tourist visa and no legal resident documents to live full time in Mexico. Since Mexico does not require actual visas for Americans to enter the country, Americans are legally permitted to stay in the country as a tourist for 180 days with only their passport and a $500 peso fee for a tourist permit. But most "forget" or evade the process to legally reside in Mexico. Some simply go back to the U.S. for a couple of days and come back again as tourist.

"More than half live undocumented and they don't known it, but (... ) these are people who came with a tourist visa and decided to stay," said Andres Rozental, Vice President of the Executive Board of Global Companies, Imagen Radio.

So, is Mexico going to suddenly start rounding up American expats or tourist in retaliation for President Donald Trump's rhetoric and threats against the country?

Of course not, mostly because Mexico recognizes that these undocumented residents are good for the local economy and spending their live savings in the country. Many others are starting businesses or working for multinational or other companies (although these latter ones are most likely legal immigrants).

But it sure is funny to think there are almost a million illegal immigrants in Mexico and that country isn't threatening to build a wall along the border.

Via La Silla Rota

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