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This article analyzes the evolution of cross-border workers who reside in Mexico and work in the United States and quantifies their economic importance. Based on census information and the enigh, a series of linear regression and Tobit models are estimated. During the 2000-2020 period, the number of cross-border workers grew slightly and the share of US-born within this group increased substantially. In 2020, cross-border workers contributed 7.3% of the salary mass and disbursed 7.5% of the total expenditures made in the municipalities of northern Mexico. Moreover, having a cross-border worker in the household is associated with an expenditure that is 56.8% higher in Mexico and 283.1% higher in the United States. Being a cross-border worker represents an effective strategy for the people from northern Mexico with the possibility of working in the United States to maximize their income and access a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]