Blurred Borders - International Community Foundation

Definitions
Canasta Basica: Defined by the Mexican Central Bank (Banco de Mexico) as the cost of basic
good and services for the average Mexican based on 80 essential items. A December 2000
hearing of the Mexican Senate put the cost of the official canasta basica at approximately $3,300
Mexican Pesos (US$330/month).
Culturally Competent Care: Health and human services are offered and delivered in a way
that are sensitive to the language, culture and traditions of non-native immigrants, migrants and
ethnic minorities with the goal of minimizing or eliminating long standing disparities in the
health status of people with diverse racial, ethnic or cultural backgrounds.
Cultural Connectors: Individuals who have a deep understanding of two different cultures
and are able to work as the bridge between these two cultures and people.
Hometown Associations (HTAs): Grassroots organizations that bring together Mexican
born immigrants now living in the United States but hailing from the same villages, town or
regions in Mexico. Today, there are over 1,500 HTAs in the United States with a growing
number in Southern California.
Maquiladora: The term comes from the Spanish word maquila, which in colonial Mexico was
the charge that millers collected for processing grain. Today, a maquiladora is an operation used
for the production of goods based on the temporary importation of raw materials and
equipment for transformation in Mexico with subsequent export to foreign markets including
the United States.
Migrant-Sending Regions: Refers to those regions in Mexico of extreme poverty from
where the majority of migrants originate. In San Diego County, over 50% of all migrants came
from just five Mexican states, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan and Baja California. Of
these, all but one (Baja California) are considered migrant-sending states. Baja California is a
major migrant-receiving state although many migrants arriving there ultimately do end up in the
United States.
Poverty Line--Mexico: The level at which family income exceeds twice the cost of the basic
food basket (Canasta Basica):
• Poverty: Family income is less than twice the cost of the basic food basket.
• Extreme Poverty: Based on the level of family income that is less than the
Canasta Basica (See definition above).
Note: There are over 40 million Mexicans living on less than US$2/day, a key factor driving human
migration to the San Diego-Tijuana region.
SENTRI: The acronym for the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, a
pre-screened inspection program currently in use by approximately 50,000 individuals in the
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