MEDIA REACTION ON DEPORTATIONS AND NEW ORLEANS,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002242 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PD, IIP/T/ES, IIP/G/WHA, PRM, AND WHA/CEN EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL PGOV SMIG KPAO HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DEPORTATIONS AND NEW ORLEANS, NOVEMBER 01, 2005 Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 11/01 entitled "Deportations." "There's no doubt that if it weren't for the money wired by our compatriots living in the U.S the economy would be deplorable, our `lempira' would be drastically devaluated and inflation would be unmanageable. The money wires are enough to maintain a healthy international reserve, which authorities calculate are a 5 months worth of imports." "This year our compatriots were struck by hurricanes that whipped the south of the United States, mainly New Orleans was completely devastated. The money wires rose to more than 1.2 billion dollars. This is because our compatriots in the U.S., protected by the Temporary Protection Status which they obtained when they where affected by hurricane "Mitch," can work legally and obtain better wages than those that work illegally, and part of their hard work they send to their relatives back home." "So far this year 75 thousand Hondurans have been deported back to Honduras. (Note: This statement counts Hondurans deported from both the U.S. and Mexico. End Note.) Whether they were captured trying to enter the U.S. and were detained by migration authorities along the way, or managed to enter but remained illegally and possibly were captured when they broke the law. It is important to insist on the legal condition of our compatriots in the United States so that their temporary, legal situation can become something permanent." Williard