Look at real impact of Latino community

It was with great pleasure that the Latino Policy Forum and MALDEF welcomed the Daily Herald to its press conference in Springfield on April 28. As part of an alliance of nearly 40 Latino-focused community organizations, we gathered at the Capitol to deliver the message that Illinois' economic future is inextricably intertwined with investment in its Latino community.

Perhaps nowhere in Illinois is this message more relevant than in Chicago's suburbs, which are currently home to 55 percent of Illinois' rapidly-growing Latino population.

As we move toward an increasingly diverse society, the futures of all Illinoisans - Latino and otherwise - are intertwined and interdependent. Unfortunately, this message was lost on many Daily Herald readers as evidenced by online posting stating that Illinois Latinos should "go home!" and warnings that "we the people" are "taking this country back."

Today, the word "Latino" seems to be increasingly tied to the rhetoric of fear despite the fact that many Latinos are second- or even third-generation Illinoisans.

Despite the increasing negative rhetoric surrounding Latinos, the fact is that Illinois has nothing to fear: The overwhelming majority of Latinos in Illinois (70 percent) are U.S. citizens and 90 percent of Latino children are citizens of this country. Moreover, far from being economic "drains," Latinos are major economic contributors to the state. Latinos purchased half of all new homes in Illinois since 2000, and represent three of every four new entrants to the labor market in Metro Chicago. For some, however, facts do no not always trump fear.

In any event, we applaud the Daily Herald for including Latinos in day-to-day news coverage, recognizing that as Latinos become more familiar to readers, they will become more accepted as neighbors, colleagues and contributors in their suburban communities.

Sylvia Puente

Executive Director

Latino Policy Forum

Chicago

Ricardo Meza

Midwest Regional Counsel

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Chicago