Why is our growing Latino population good for U.S.-Latin America relations?

Latinos are natural ambassadors to the region. And the fact that the Latino community is growing in the United States should be good news for U.S.-Latin America relations. Hispanic businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of small businesses in the United States—that’s according to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Also, Hispanics can take advantage of the opportunities that better trade relations would create both by creating jobs here in the United States as well as creating opportunities for business with Latin America. Another example of ways in which the United States and Latin America benefit from the growing Latino population in the United States are Hometown Associations. Hometown Associations are organizations that have been formed by mostly recent immigrants that not only focus on integration—meaning creating, for example, English classes, or promoting citizenship—but they also engage in raising money to support international aid. For example, they raise money to build hospitals, schools, or roads in their country of origin. And these Hometown Associations are examples of how these communities come together to promote economic empowerment, international aid, as well as civic participation both here in the United States as well as in Latin America.