Cisneros Discusses Future of Latinos

Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry G. Cisneros returned to the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) last night to discuss the undeniable increasing presence of America’s Latino population and the issues pertinent to what he calls the “Hispanization of the United States.”

Cisneros, who received a Masters in Public Administration from the KSG in 1973, spoke in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum room to kick off the 10th Annual Latino Law and Public Policy Conference, which will last until tomorrow night.

“The Latino future is the saving grace of this country,” said Cisneros, who became the first Hispanic mayor of a major American city when he took office as mayor of San Antonio, Texas in 1981.

He pointed to the growing size of the American Latino population as evidence of the group’s promising future, noting that around 40 percent of Latinos in the U.S. are under 20 years of age.

Young Latinos are “so numerous now that if we fail to move the needle for education, the nation’s prospects will be affected,” Cisneros said, highlighting a collective responsibility to improve public education in America.

The most prevalent issue during the question and answer portion of the event was immigration reform, and Cisneros presented a “three-part package” consisting of a guest worker program, stricter border controls, and a path to citizenship for workers who have been successful in the United States.

“If we don’t figure out how to integrate immigrants into our society, not just in terms of legalization, then the country is going to suffer,” Cisneros said.

A member of Clinton administration, Cisneros conceded that there were potential flaws with his plan, as it left little incentive for Latin American workers to stay in their home countries. He underlined the need for harsher sanctions for businesses employing illegal immigrants.

Cisneros concluded the evening with examples of the progress Latinos have made in the past decade, citing figures from singer Gloria Estefan to Red Sox hitter David Ortiz as people who represent a “picture of increasing influence in this nation.”

Yomaris Nunez, a member of the Latino Caucus at the Kennedy School, applauded the event.

“It’s the one and only time each year that Latino issues are so widely discussed at Harvard,” Nunez said.

Political Chair of Harvard RAZA Andrea R. Flores ’10 said that Cisneros’ address was a “great start” to the conference.

“It is encouraging to see so many great leaders assembled here together,” she said.