Mexicanos por naturalización en la primera mitad del siglo XX. Un acercamiento cuantitativo

Abstract

Este trabajo se funda en la reconstrucción de la serie histórica de cartas de naturalización expedidas por los gobiernos mexicanos a lo largo de casi dos siglos. Sobre esta base se explora la dimensión cuantitativa de la política de naturalización de extranjeros durante la primera mitad del siglo XX. ¿Cuántos extranjeros se naturalizaron y cuáles fueron sus orígenes nacionales? ¿Cuál fue la distribución por sexo, estado civil, lugar de residencia y ocupación? ¿El volumen de naturalizados fue engrosado por regímenes de excepción en beneficio de ciertas comunidades de inmigrantes? ¿Es posible encontrar correlaciones entre nuevos flujos inmigratorios y la gestión de la política de naturalización? ¿Los cambios en las normas sobre migración y extranjería impactaron en las naturalizaciones? Entre otros, estos interrogantes guiaron una investigación interesada en cuantificar el universo de extranjeros naturalizados en unas décadas en que se registraron los más altos índices de naturalización, a pesar del poderoso nacionalismo que impulsó las políticas de extranjería más restrictivas que conoció México.

Nationals, but not full citizens: Naturalisation policies in Mexico

“…This question is difficult to answer, because statistical data on immigration and naturalisation for both 19 th century and most of the 20 th , is notoriously fragmented and unreliable; is currently unavailable due to limits to public information access; or it simply does not exist (see e.g. Rodríguez Chávez, 2010;Rodríguez Chávez, Salazar Cruz, & Martínez Caballero, 2012;Yankelevich, 2015). This lack of data makes it impossible even today, to differentiate between three groups of foreign origin: resident foreigners as such; naturalised Mexicans; and Mexicans-by-birth born abroad who automatically acquired such nationality due to the ius sanguinis principle.…”

“…The Second Mexican Empire of Maximilian of Hapsburg (1864-1867) introduced a mixed system, but after its defeat, 'pure' ius sanguinis was restored and confirmed in 1886, and in force until the first decades of the 20 th century. Chávez, 2010;Rodríguez Chávez et al, 2012;Yankelevich, 2015). In the particular case of naturalization, researchers working with the available archival sources have found surprisingly low numbers.…”

“…In the particular case of naturalization, researchers working with the available archival sources have found surprisingly low numbers. Pablo Yankelevich sets a figure of 36,519 naturalizations in 171 years , from which 93% were granted during the 20 th century, particularly between 1920 and 1953 (Yankelevich, 2015(Yankelevich, , pp. 1633(Yankelevich, -1638).…”

“…Most persons that obtained naturalization between 1828 and 1953 came from Spain (40.39%) and Guatemala (15.70%). Further countries of origin included Germany, China, Poland, Lebanon and Russia(Yankelevich, 2015(Yankelevich, , pp. 1633(Yankelevich, -1638.3 This number includes rejected applications, as well as those left unfinished by the applicant.…”

When Pernicious Foreigners Become Citizens: Naturalization in Early Twentieth-Century Mexico

“…Among the total 1,185 orders 1911 and 1940, 786 immigrants were permanently expelled while 399 had their deportation orders subsequently revoked (Yankelevich, 2004a). Pablo Yankelevich has examined these cases to show how immigrants faced deportations due to perceived political motives and/or criminal activities that were interpreted to threaten the nation-state (Yankelevich, 2004a). His research shows, however, that while expulsions were symbolically important, only a very small number of pernicious foreigners were affected.…”