Their nation needs a new economic policy, say Mexican speakers who term emigration to U.S. "an exodus"

A major conference on immigration issues was held May 11 in the Mexican state of Michoacan, the home state of many illegal aliens now living in the U.S. Attending the conference were academics and politicians from all over the world.

Roberto Garcia Zamorra, an immigration expert from Zacatecas University in Mexico, predicted that his nation will face a crisis unless it relies less on money from migrants. The U.S. economy is slowing in sectors that employ foreign labor, such as construction, and money sent back to the homeland in remittances is expected to decline. "If we don't make a new economic policy we are going to have a very big problem," he said.

For now, Mexico is exporting its people. Zamorra said a recent study showed that more than half the municipalities in 10 Mexican states are seeing population losses.

Lazaro Cardenas, Governor of Michoacan, which has lost nearly half its population to emigration, also called for a change in direction. "In Mexico, we not only see the migrant who emigrates as a family provider but also as a pillar of support to the national economy," Cardenas said. "This is a road that goes nowhere — a mirage that has been used as an excuse for not assuming our responsibilities as a country regarding this massive exodus."

His statement was met with rousing applause.