There is a small Chilean diaspora in Mexico. According to the 2010 census, there were 5267 registered Chilean citizens living in Mexico,[2] an increase from the 3,848 registered in the 2000 census.[2] Chilean immigrants constitute the fifth largest community of South Americans in Mexico (after Colombian Mexicans, Argentine Mexicans, Venezuelan Mexicans and Brazilian Mexicans) and the fifteenth largest immigrant community overall.[2][3]

Chilean Mexican
chileno-mexicano
Chile Mexico
Chilean community in Mexico City
Total population
7,389 Chile-born residents (2017)[1]
Unknown number of Mexicans of Chilean descent
Regions with significant populations
Mostly concentrated in urban areas such as: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla, Monterrey, León, Mérida, Cancun
Languages
Chilean Spanish · German · English · Italian · Mapuche · Rapa Nui
Religion
Roman Catholicism, minority Protestantism and Irreligion
Related ethnic groups
Chileans, Mexicans

History

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The first South Americans who came to an independent Mexico came from Chile and Peru, who passed through the ports of Acapulco and Puerto Ángel for supplies during the height of the gold rush in California in the mid-nineteenth century. Some Chilean and Peruvian migrants stayed and threw culturares roots among the coastal populations of the Mexican south Pacific.

In the summer of 1849, hundreds of Chileans were deceived by American filibusters to have alliances to invade the port of Guaymas, in an attempt to found the Republic of Sonora. The Chileans were taken to the camps, but the Mexican army attacked Chilean vessels and killed many immigrants accused of supporting separatists.

Political asylum

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After the coup that overthrew Salvador Allende in 1973, many Chileans fled the political persecution of the dictatorship of Pinochet, seeking political asylum in Mexico, accompanied by Peruvians fleeing persecution carried out by their respective governments. The higher educational level of Mexico provided a platform to protect their stay in the country.

Many Chileans who sought political asylum, have settled permanently in the country. They have found the same life expectancy at best to proceed with businesses and jobs that have allowed them to maintain a standard of living much better than other Latin American immigrants. Both countries share the Spanish language; their historical origins are common (part of the Spanish Empire). The warmth of the people of the country has allowed them to live peacefully and in total harmony, some marrying and having families of success. There are others who are simply charmed with everything about Mexico and decided to settle in definitively. Without a doubt this is a unique example of coexistence between migrants and local.

Chilean culture in Mexico

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Las chilenas, a musical expression of the Costa Chica which has its origins in the Chilean folklore called cueca.

Undoubtedly, one of the cultural contributions of Chile on Mexican soil is the Chilean folk, artistic and innovative tradition of the South American sailor expressed and taught in many Guerrero and Oaxaca spaces strongly influenced by this community who arrived during and after independence from Spain.[4]

Both countries celebrate their respective anniversaries of independence during the same month, being an important link between the two nations.

Although both countries have different mining industries, they have developed to a level that allows it to be profitable and competitive in foreign markets.

The new wave of immigration

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Today, the Chilean community in Mexico is one of the largest communities of foreigners in Mexico. The presence of Chileans stands mainly in large urban centers as sportsmen, academics, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and artists.[5]

It may be mentioned also that in the technology and transport field, both countries share in their capital a metro system in common which was installed by a French consortium as the Santiago Metro and Mexico City Metro have a system trains with rubber tires, both of Alstom technology. In the 80s, when an attack took place in Santiago, the FPMR Concarril I built for Chile a NS88 train of five cars to replace the wrecked train. Both state-owned transport companies share knowledge and strategies to optimize their respective systems. Even CAF, who was winner of a bid in Santiago, designed the NS2007 Train with similarities to the NM02 Mexicano.

Chilean immigration to Mexico from 1895 to 2000
Year Chilean residents
1895 111  
1900 111  
1910 161  
1921 164  
1930 145  
1970 845  
1980 3,343  
1990 2,501  
2000 3,848  
2010 5,267  

Source: Estadísticas históricas de México 2009 and Censo de Población y Vivienda 2010

Notable individuals

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Natalia Lafourcade, singer-songwriter born to a French Chilean father

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Table 1: Total migrant stock at mid-year by origin and by major area, region, country or area of destination, 2017". United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Conociendonos todos" (PDF). INEGI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ^ "México - Inmigración 2019". datosmacro.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Chile en México – La Chilena Mexicana – La Chilena de Oaxaca". YouTube. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Chilenos llevan a México en su corazón". Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.