Posted on 04/15/2004 11:29:59 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com
Consuls from Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico say they're uniting forces to improve the quality of life for Hispanic immigrants in California.
The consuls announced a plan Wednesday to work with U.S. officials and community groups to provide joint education and legal assistance in areas of health, immigration and labor rights...
"The question is not, 'what do the countries gain from uniting?', it's 'what do we stand to lose by not doing it?'" Guatemalan Consul Fernando Castillo said before signing the agreement in Los Angeles' Olvera Plaza, where the city was founded by Spanish settlers more than two centuries ago.
The consuls maintain the United States relies on migrant labor, while Central American countries and Mexico rely on the revenue those migrants send home...
The consuls will begin the new effort with an event to raise awareness about civic participation. They also plan to hold a health fair to highlight programs available for immigrants and share legal resources to help those detained by immigration authorities.
But they were clear that as diplomats, they will not get involved in the upcoming U.S. elections, and their focus remains Los Angeles County, which has roughly 4 million Central American and Mexican immigrants, the largest concentration in the country...
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
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