The migration phenomenon of Mexican people to the USA has become regular as a consequence of the search for better living conditions. Thus, Mexican migrants are subject to constant changes in their culture, behavior, and sexual life style throughout the process that includes traveling and stopping at different sites while reaching the US, staying abroad, and coming back home. Women and men who decide to take the chance to cross the border are at risk of being discriminated, mistreated, and sexually abused. As a consequence of the above these people become vulnerable, among many other conditions, to the acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Their illegal status compromises their quality of life because they do not have access to medical care. In this regard, an organized, social, and governmental response from both the USA and Mexico is far from complete due to the complex situation which has prevented so far that effective laws and services be available to migrants who may be infected with HIV/STI. The aim of this paper is to review the interaction between migration and sexual behavior in terms of living conditions, and the possible acquisition of HIV, plus its further transmission to other individuals, including those at the birth place of the migrants upon return to their home towns. Sources employed for this work were peer reviewed papers, Mexican government offices data, and PAHO and WHO technical documents. Results found did not show a great deal of HIV cases among Mexican migrants, however it is an evidence based fact that migrants constitute a key population for health hazards and particularly for HIV/STI infections due to the risky behavioral and sexual practices they experience during their transit to and back from the USA.

migrant Migration HIV/STI Vulnerability

Review sexual behavior high risk population Human immunodeficiency virus infection Mexico sexually transmitted disease United States human migration travel