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Writer's pictureAnnabelle Torres

"Without Mexicans, my business wouldn't exist": the migrants who sustain Alaska's economy and earn up to $27,000 in four months of work.


Migrant workers in Alaska
Migrant workers in Alaska


Edgar Vega, a Mexican worker, laughs with a Filipino colleague at a fish processing plant in Cordova, Alaska. With 18 years of experience in the fishing season, Edgar has become an essential part of this community.


In the remote town of Cordova, where ice predominates for much of the year, today’s meal is fish tacos, thanks to the majority of Mexican workers who come here every summer to participate in the wild salmon fishing.


Life in Cordova is tough, with more than 200 days of cold, rain, and snow, but during the summer, the community is intensely focused on fishing. According to data from the Department of Labor, more than half of the jobs in this area depend on this activity.


Workers face long hours, often up to 18, cleaning and preparing tons of fish. Edgar, for example, diligently works to ensure that the fish arrives clean to consumers. Although the job is exhausting, it allows him to earn enough to live comfortably for the rest of the year in Mexicali, where he awaits his four children. "The money I earn here is worth double in Mexicali," says Edgar, who can earn up to $27,000 in just four months.

Migrants from various nationalities gather in Alaska, but it is the Mexicans who have found a crucial place in the fishing industry.


Rich Wheeler, owner of North 60 Seafoods, acknowledges the importance of these workers: "If it weren't for the Mexicans, my business wouldn't exist." His experience has shown that local workers have not been as reliable, and he values the punctuality and professionalism of the migrants.


Cordova’s mayor, David Allison, also emphasizes the need for these workers in the community. "Fish isn't processed without hands to do it," he remarks, stressing that without fishing, the town could become a ghost town.


The fishing industry in Alaska is vital to the local economy and produces more than half of the country's fish. In 2022, over 80% of workers in the sector were migrants, prompting the U.S. government to increase work visas to facilitate their arrival.

Migrants receive housing and meals during their contracts, allowing them to save.


Additionally, companies must pay 50% more for overtime hours, significantly boosting their income.


Rosa Vega, Edgar's mother, also works in Alaska and has adapted her life to the extreme cold. At 67, she faces separation from her family in Mexicali, where the heat is overwhelming. "Mexicali is very hot... I had to get used to the cold in Alaska," she comments.


Spanish, the most spoken language in Cordova, reflects the influence of the migrants. This place, explored by the Spanish explorer Salvador Fidalgo in 1790, has seen many cultures pass through, each taking advantage of its natural resources.


At the end of the season, Rosa and Edgar return to Mexicali, where Edgar looks to invest his money. However, their return is overshadowed by his mother's health, as she has suffered a cerebral accident. Now, Edgar focuses on caring for her and reclaiming their home, knowing that the work in Alaska will return next year.


Source: BBC


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