When my husband and I made the decision to move our family to León, Guanajuato, I never imagined we’d be having conversations about gentrification. But here we are, two and a half months in, and it’s the elephant in the room we can’t ignore.
The Question That Keeps Me Up at Night
“Are we the problem?”
It’s a question I’ve been wrestling with since before we even packed our bags. As second-generation Mexican Americans—born in the U.S. to parents who were born in Mexico—we occupy this weird in-between space. We’re not too removed from Mexico (only one generation behind), but we’re also not locals who’ve been here for generations.
The level of privilege we have in just making the decision to move our family to Mexico isn’t lost on me. It’s real, and it matters.
What Gentrification Actually Means
Before we dive deeper, Alex did what any responsible person would do—he looked up the actual definition of gentrification. And here’s what we learned: by definition, we’re not gentrifying this area. To be gentrifying, we would have to have moved into a super low-income area. And where we’re living right now? I’m pretty sure our neighbors make way more money than we do.
But the general concept of gentrification? That’s what weighs heavy on our hearts.
Our Chicago Story
Alex and I grew up in Chicago, in neighborhoods filled with working-class families and immigrants—not just from Latin America and Mexico, but from Poland, the Middle East, and beyond. We watched gentrification happen before our eyes in places like Pilsen and Logan Square. We saw what happens when affluent people move into communities and displace the families who built them.
We know what it feels like to be pushed out. We lived in Chicago for the first couple years of our marriage, then moved to the suburbs because it was affordable, then went back to Chicago, and now we’re here. It’s almost like Chicago kept saying, “Go away. Go away. Go away.”
Even in Bolingbrook, where we lived before this move, the property taxes skyrocketed with nothing to show for it. The struggle to find affordable housing isn’t unique to us—it’s the story of so many families trying to establish themselves.
Why León Is Different
Here’s the thing about León that surprised me: it’s not experiencing the same level of gentrification as places like Mexico City, Oaxaca, or other indigenous areas with their stunning cultural ecosystems. León is already a pretty affluent city.
When we go to the mall two minutes from our house, we see people wearing Gucci and other designer brands like it’s nothing. A pair of Nikes here runs about $150-$200 (compared to $80-$150 in the States), and people are buying them without blinking. Alex was looking at a BMW X5 that cost 1.6 million pesos—roughly $90,000. In the States, the same car would be about $70-75k.
We see Land Rovers, Mercedes, Porsches in our neighborhood regularly. There’s generational wealth here that makes our family’s story—dads who worked in factories, moms who had low-paying office jobs or stayed home—feel so different from the established affluence around us.
The Generational Wealth Reality Check
This is where it gets complicated for me emotionally. When I look at the wealth that’s been here for generations, I can’t help but wonder: did my parents miss out on an opportunity to build more wealth by staying in the United States? Have we lost out on generational wealth because our families chose a different path?
We’re trying to establish ourselves differently than our families did—owning real estate in the United States, becoming dual citizens, seeking opportunities in Mexico. I know it’s a privilege to even have these options, but it’s also this really interesting position to be in where we can see how we might prosper differently than if we’d stayed in the U.S. long term.
The Housing Gatekeeping
One thing León does that actually protects against rapid gentrification? Housing gatekeeping. We couldn’t just sign a lease like we would in the States. We needed my grandfather to co-sign for us—he had to be the “aval,” which is basically a guarantor. And he had to own property in Mexico and be a Mexican citizen.
Even though we’re both Mexican citizens, we don’t have established credit or property here yet (though we plan to in the future). This requirement limited our housing options, but I can see how it helps keep the community somewhat protected from outsiders who might drive up costs.
Our Impact (Or Lack Thereof)
Alex made a good point during our conversation: we’re on a minuscule scale. We’re renting, not buying up property and making extravagant renovations that would affect the whole area. We’re contributing to the local economy, but we’re nothing compared to the established wealth that’s already here.
If anything, we’re doing a big “FU” to the United States because we’re earning U.S. dollars but not giving anything back to the U.S. economy. (Though that’s probably a topic for another day.)
Being Received with Open Arms
Despite all these complicated feelings, the locals here have received us with open arms. We haven’t felt unwanted—except maybe by some government workers, but that’s a story for another episode. I think it helps that we speak Spanish, we understand the culture, we have the manners and values that connect us to our heritage.
We’re not outsiders in the way that, say, our white counterparts might be. That’s what Alex thinks of first when he hears “gentrification”—and honestly, in many cases, he’s not wrong.
The Bigger Picture
Look, I know we’re only talking about a specific pocket of León. We’ve definitely seen poverty in other areas. Not everywhere in Mexico is as affluent as where we’re currently living. But when I put our existence into perspective—who we are as second-generation Americans compared to those who’ve been established here for generations—it gives me major FOMO. Like, what opportunities did we miss?
Gentrification is a complicated issue, and we’re sensitive to that. We understand people’s struggles because we’ve lived them and witnessed them. Our situation isn’t unique—so many people are trying to navigate fitting into different communities while staying true to who they are.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
So, are we gentrifying? By strict definition, probably not. But are we contributing to a larger pattern of Americans moving to Mexico? That’s harder to answer.
What I do know is that we’re cognizant of our position. We’re aware of the conversations happening in Mexico City and other places where locals are protesting and saying “we don’t want you here.” We’re paying attention to costs, to who’s moving where, and why people are settling in communities that aren’t originally theirs.
This isn’t a black-and-white issue. It’s layered with privilege, heritage, economics, and belonging. And it deserves ongoing dialogue.
I want to hear from you: Have you seen gentrification in your community back in the United States? If you’re from Mexico, are you witnessing this in your area? Do you think second-generation Mexican Americans like us are part of the problem?
Send me a DM on Instagram at @vivalamami, email me at podcast@vivalamami.com, or comment on YouTube. Let’s have this conversation together.
Show Notes
In this episode of the “Living in Mexico” series, I’m sitting down with my husband to tackle one of the most controversial topics we’ve faced since moving to México: gentrification.
As second-generation Mexican Americans living in León, Guanajuato, we’re getting real about whether we’re part of the problem, what gentrification actually means, and how our experience differs from what’s happening in other places across Mexico. This conversation isn’t easy, but it’s one we need to have.
What You’ll Hear
- The definition of gentrification and whether we actually fit it
- Our Chicago roots and how witnessing gentrification shaped our perspective
- The generational wealth gap we’ve noticed and what it means for our family’s story
Resources Mentioned
- Last week’s episode on finding long-term housing in Mexico
- Upcoming FREE live masterclass on Getting Dual Citizenship in Mexico
About Jessica Cuevas
Jessica is the founder and creator of Viva la Mami, LLC a community centered around Latina motherhood. Jessica created this platform after not finding empowering stories about experiences of Latina moms. She realized that there was a lack of representation in this space and felt there was a need for mamis to share their stories and to learn more about the nuances about motherhood through a cultural lens.
Viva la Mami’s mission is to empower the modern Latina mom to redefine the meaning of madrehood through education, story-telling, and cultural relevance all while bringing comunidad together.
