Mexican Exodus May Bring End To Many Towns

Migration of workers from Mexico to the U.S. is creating a drain of workers -- and a viable future -- from many Mexican towns.

1 minute read

June 28, 2007, 10:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"A recent study shows more than half the municipalities in 10 Mexican states are seeing falling populations. One of them is Guanajuato, which has one of the highest rates of migration in Mexico."

"And increasingly, husbands try to take their wives and children across into the United States, emptying whole villages like El Gusano. Those who can't come along are left to fend for themselves, and await money sent back home."

"For many migrants, making money in the United States is only a mean to this end, to owning property and land. But faced with desolate economic prospects locally - and lured by promises of money in the North - many who grow up in El Gusano move to the United States for work."

"In a neighboring village, a group of 15-year-old boys recently gathered underneath a tree near a school playground. Asked about their plans, they said that they too plan to make the journey to the United States."

FULL STORY: Mexican Migration Robs Towns of Youth, Future

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 in NPR

Social / Demographics Central and South America United States

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