More and more women are entering the United States to work as the recent crackdown on border crossings makes it harder for men to return to Mexico.

From the Houston Chronicle:

In recent years the familiar image of the undocumented worker has been men huddled at day labor sites or male factory workers at meat processing plants. But immigration activists say the profile of the illegal worker is changing as more women are coming north for economic reasons, either to join a spouse or relative, or on their own.

Many experts say it’s an unintended consequence of heightened security on the border, which has made it harder for men to return home frequently and maintain a family.