Abstract

The article approaches the different local notions on “floating population” that appear in the discourses and practices of residents of Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, Mexico. In their speech, “floating population” is enunciated as a synonym of temporary residents, whose origin is supposed to be Central America, and as a representation of the problematic otherness. Through the analysis of the local discourses, the urban configuration, and the labor market of this border town, it is shown that the “floating population” embodies a paradox: on the one hand, it is named for its undefined temporality and for its otherness, and it is blamed for insecurity and poor urban infrastructure, but on the other, it is incorporated to local labor market as cheap and flexible workforce, which contributes to both global and local mercantile flow. It is concluded that to be “floating” is the actor’s condition which affects the new urban dynamics on the border context.

Keywords Human mobility; southern border of Mexico; urban segregation; construction of otherness; labor precariousness