Internal organization of Mexican immigrant associations: an assessment from the place of destination

Abstract

This paper analyzes internal process of Mexican inmigrants associations in different cities of California. The study is based on data collected from twelve first level associations or “clubes de oriundos”. Using qualitative techniques, wedocument the complexity of the internal organization of these associations, as well as the variety of individual and social efforts to keep them working. The research highlights the importance of the role played by the localities of destination in our understanding of the organization process of Mexican immigrants, as well as the possibilities of their collective actions. In this way, we discuss and complement the studies focused on Hometown Associations from the Mexican localities of origin. Our findings show that the "clubes de oriundos” are complex associations that impose a high organizational cost on its members, as well as spheres of sociability that members use to satisfy a set of social needs related to their position as immigrants.