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Mexican delegation visiting Charlotte to discuss issues with city leaders
01:06 PM EDT on Thursday, August 25, 2005

By Anna Crowley / 6NEWS

A Mexican delegation is visiting Charlotte and touring the area to see how city officials are responding with the booming Latino population.

The delegation met at Eastland mall, the first stop on a full day of touring the city. They were invited to the Queen City by the Latin American Coalition. They hope to talk to city officials on how to respond to the large population of Latinos that have settled in the area.

Jose Aguilera, the mayor of Jerecuaro, Mexico, said he was invited here by a Mexican foundation and he came here from Nashville where he had been making a similar visit. He told 6NEWS some of what he hoped to discuss during his visit.

“On the various occasions I have come to the US in my position as mayor, its always been to work with our Mexican population, maybe not to have them come to the US and work in very low-level jobs,� he said through a translator.

He said that the economy in Mexico is bad and has forced many to immigrate north to find work. He hopes some of the conversations today can help improve the Mexican economy, and improve relations when it comes to immigration into the US from Mexico.

The delegation is expected to visit several other places in Charlotte Thursday including the Levine Museum of the New South, the Latin American Coalition, Foundation for the Carolinas, The Government Center, Central Piedmont Community College, University of North Carolina Charlotte and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Training Academy.