Despite a strong Mexican economy, US plants and suppliers are laying off employees. Free trade agreements like NAFTA make many businesses in Mexico dependent on the fortunes of the US economy and a falling Dow has many US plants shutting their doors. Factories like Goodyear provide stable, high-paying jobs for thousands of Mexicans.
See "Goodyear Cuts Jobs in Mexico", Grahm Gori, The New York Times, April 30, 2001