From Sacrifice to Support: The Aging Experiences and Retirement Strategies of Older Mexican Immigrants

Older Mexican immigrants in the U.S.—many with limited or no legal status—face particular vulnerabilities in later life due to restricted access to public safety nets. This qualitative project explores how legal status shapes retirement planning, reliance on family versus public supports, and decisions about where to age. It will conduct 90 life-history interviews with Mexican immigrants aged 50+, 30 interviews with their adult children, and ethnographic observation of family and community interactions in San Diego County. A comparative design contrasts three legal-status trajectories—long-term legal residents, long-term undocumented, and late legalizers—to assess how timing and duration of status affect access to resources and later-life choices. Findings will inform policies to better support aging immigrant populations.