Mr Payan has not long to persuade either the government or the rebels to change tack.

ECONOMIST: Fortress Mexico

"Structurally, Mexico still has high levels of insecurity, " Mr. Payan said.

WSJ: U.S. Immigration Overhaul Tests Mexican Partnership

"The pull factors stimulating emigration to the U.S. have changed, " said Tony Payan, a visiting scholar at Rice University in Houston, who also credits improved border security for reducing emigration.

WSJ: U.S. Immigration Overhaul Tests Mexican Partnership