Central America
* Re “Honduras, Nicaragua Deportations Delayed,” Dec. 31: The grant of temporary protected status for Hondurans and Nicaraguans is great news for Central America. It will relieve Honduras and Nicaragua from dealing with the forced repatriation of nationals who continue to bail out their economies. Central Americans comprise the second largest Latino group in California. California should not ignore Central America and should expect our newest state secretary of trade and commerce, Lon Hatamiya, to develop a viable economic policy for Central America. When such economic policy is developed, California will move forward in the direction that Texas and Florida have undertaken to prop up the economies of the Caribbean to deter illegal immigration.
Hurricane Mitch was a tragedy to Central America, but it has also opened up new business opportunities in agriculture, construction and food distribution. California can only gain by investing in the economies of Central America.
EDGARDO QUINTANILLA
Sylmar
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