Why do U.S. citizens call the illegal immigrants Mexican, when it is really a conglomeration of Latin peoples?

DAR

Most of us don't unless we are answering a question specifically about Mexicans or discussing a statistic specifically about Mexicans here illegally. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, more people illegally here are from Mexico than from all other countries combined. 75% of illegals are from Latin America, however, the number 2 country that is a source of illegal immigration is India.

On the other hand, according to government estimates 50% of all Mexican nationals here are illegally here, and I do suspect that isn't so for any other country.

YANKEE

your wrong too. Its all peoples from all over the world.

Georgewasmyfavorite

Since your question has been answered I'll only add that we all tend to group people of similar appearance into one.To latinos all orientals are chinese,even though they know that is not the case.

Obama=Establishment Demagogue

Yeah and when ever I see media reports, they are always showing some indigent Mexican jumping a fence or sneaking under a fence....But its funny I never see those from Europe with expired visa's shown on the media....

sheablvd

well i live in Arizona and most of the people we refer to as "mexicans" do come from Mexico therefore they are known as Mexicans. and if you call a latino person a mexican and they're not from mexico, they'll let you know.

TomCat

it's convenient - would they prefer to be called conglomeration of latin peoples? - believe me, they wouldnt comprende

True Red White & Blue

Most Illegals are from mexico, where are you from?

josh m

It sounds to me like your feeding into the stereotype by eliciting a neg response.

Razor Jim

Because they are not referring to their ethnic heritage. Mexican refers to the fact they lived in Mexico before they crossed our border.

Jarod R

We have a tendancy to generalize people. However can you really blame us for that? Most of them are. We need to work on that. But we all need to work on something. We're all human.

Lucky

Wrong but nice try. Mexican illegal immigration has always been the largest in number far exceeding even the combined numbers of all others.

JOHN D

80% or more are Mexican thats why.

electrosmack1

Would you call an illegal immigrant from China a Mexican?
Why would somebody write, "Gringos are too dumb and lazy to understand that."
"Gringos" could say, Spics are too dumb and lazy to get a green card.
Really, an illegal immigrant who crosses from Mexico to the United States is commonly referred to as a Mexican. How would we know otherwise? They could be from Chile, or Guatemala, or any one of the other countries from South and Central America.
It's not because people from the U.S. are stupid, or lazy, it's just because, how would we know otherwise? Would we walk up to someone who looks Mexican, and say, "Are you a Mexican, and if so, are you an illegal immigrant?"

DASHLOC4ever

Due to the close proximity to the border of the USA the majority are Mexican.

I do not really care where the illegals are from I only want them to leave.

Dreaming Free

Because about 99 percent ARE from Mexico.

kujigafy

1, most are mexicans
2, it doesnt matter, because the ones who are illegal are illegal no matter which country they're from - but since most are mexican, it seems to make sense to target that nation as a problem
3, im called caucasian or white by plenty of latin americans, despite the fact that there is no caucasia or whiteland.... i think the non-mexican latin-americans should get over it.

Anne

I think about 75% are Mexicans, and most of the posters who speak to and for amnesty, speak of Mexicans in their posting

Mr. Mxyzptlk

mexicans may make up the majority and as u.s. citiizens we don't feel the need to address each specific ethnicity when we can easily just group them under the term mexican...i didn't make the rules

good start i do like those stereo type myself.

khaida w

because most of the people here come from Mexico; they share borders with us. THEIR NATIONALITY IS MEXICAN BUT THERE ARE many ETHNIC GROUPS
Most of the 12 million MEXICANS HERE ARE MIXED WITH INDIAN...that is why I believe they have a right to be here.

http://www.questconnect.org/mexico_cc_ethnic.htm

The overwhelmingly largest ethnic group in Mexico is the Mestizos who are of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry.

becksbear

Because that is what they call themselves.

Abby

Because it's easier to say "Mexican" than "Latin peoples"

M3D!C

because racial sterotyping is easy and fun!! ask about it at work!

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