Poll shows Latino voters take immigration issues personally
by Hugh Holub on Jul. 19, 2011, under immigration law reform, politicsFrom AmericasVoice.org:
Now It’s Personal: Why Latino Voters Care So Much About Immigration
New Polling Underscores Challenges and Opportunities for Obama Administration
Washington, DC – New public opinion analysis by Latino Decisions demonstrates that immigration remains salient and motivating for Latino voters in the United States due to their personal connection to the debate. As the polling makes clear, the rise in deportations and ongoing inaction on comprehensive immigration reform will directly affect Latino voters’ political choices in 2012. Among the key data include the fact that President Obama’s approval rating on his handling of immigration issues is just 35% among the quarter of Latino voters who personally know someone caught up in deportation proceedings – compared to the President’s 52% approval rating on immigration issues among Latino voters who do not personally know someone caught up in deportation.
As the Latino Decisions analysis sums up, “The personal relationship Latinos have to state and federal immigration policy helps to explain why there has been a major shift in Latino attitudes toward immigration, and is also impacting Latinos’ approval of the job President Obama is doing reforming immigration policy. It will therefore be extremely difficult to engage Latino voters without addressing what is becoming painfully obvious: that for Latinos, immigration is no longer about politics, it’s personal.”
Among the key findings in the new analysis:
- Latino Voters’ Personal Lens on the Immigration Debate: June polling by impreMedia/Latino Decisions found that a majority of Latino voters (53%) said they know someone who is undocumented, while one-fourth (25%) said they know a person or have a family member who is facing deportation or who has been deported. As the new analysis notes, “These are striking numbers, particularly given that our sample for the poll is registered voters, who by definition are citizens of the United States.” Noting that immigration has become the single most important voting issue for Latino voters in the June poll, beating jobs and the economy by 16 points, Latino Decisions writes: “We believe that the increased saliency of immigration policy and liberal movement in attitudes among Latinos is due to two factors: 1) perceptions of immigration policies being framed in anti-Latino rhetoric, and 2) personal knowledge of the impact of immigration policy on families living in the United States.” The findings about Latino voters’ personal connection to the immigration debate echo 2010 polling of Latino voters in twelve states by Bendixen & Amandi, who found that 78% of Latino voters considered the immigration issue important to them and their families, including 51% who called it “very important.” Additionally, 62% of respondents in the Bendixen & Amandi poll reported knowing an undocumented person vs. only 33% who did not.
- What it Means for 2012: Most significant for political strategists and pundits, today’s new analysis notes that, “having personal connections to those most impacted by immigration policies moderates how the Latino electorate views the job President Obama has been doing handling immigration reform.” Specifically, President Obama’s approval rating on his handling of immigration issues drops to 35% among the quarter of Latinos who personally know someone caught up in deportation proceedings – a full 17 points lower than among those who do not know someone caught up in deportation. Per Latino Decisions, “This trend strongly suggests that Latinos who have intimate knowledge of the severe consequences associated with the Obama administration’s current approach to immigration are more likely to hold the President accountable for these outcomes.”
- Lessons from the Ground: Two new articles lift up personal stories and add important context to the Latino Decisions analysis. A Roll Call piece profiles the story of Haile Rivera, one of the small dollar donors selected in to dine with then candidate Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign. According to Roll Call, Rivera is disappointed “that the president has not prioritized his campaign promise to give the millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally a path to citizenship.” Although he is still an engaged supporter of Obama, and is already volunteering on behalf of his reelection campaign, the piece reports that Rivera “spends a lot of his time explaining to disappointed supporters why immigration reform hasn’t passed and why deportations have risen.” Additionally, a Reuters article assesses how Hispanics in Iowa have grown frustrated on immigration issues and apportion much of the blame to President Obama. The article quotes Oscar Garcia, a 57-year-old former corrections officer in Iowa, who stated, “Our people are suffering. They need to become legal.” To Garcia, Obama “has done nothing for immigrants. He hasn’t kept his promises. When healthcare came along, he pushed it to the limit. He didn’t care what the Republicans were saying. Why couldn’t he do the same thing for immigration reform? Why didn’t he push it the limit?” The Reuters piece also notes that Republicans are in no position to capitalize on this frustration with Obama: “If there’s good news here for Obama, it’s that Republicans are regarded with deep suspicion by most local Hispanics, not just on immigration issue [sic] but on workplace safety and business regulation.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, “President Obama and his advisors have to understand that if they want Latino voters to show up and fight for them, they have to stand up and fight for Latino immigrants. With enforcement-only policies run amok and Republicans attempting to bully the Administration into more of the same, it’s time to embrace the fight, make life better on the ground for immigrant workers and families, and show just how extreme and radical the Republican Party has become.”
Link to New Latino Decisions Analysis: http://latinodecisions.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/immigration-policy-is-personal-for-latinos/
America’s Voice — Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform.
###
COMMENT: I think the Republicans have made a fundamnetal mistake in Arizona letting Russell Pearce anmd Joe Arpaio be the front people on the immigration issue because they alienate all Hispanics. Pearce and Arpaio made it a race issue when this is really all about whether one follows to rules to come to America or not.
The existing voting population of Hispanics came hear legally, and from my experience anyway, they do not think too much of illegal entry.
Hispanic neighborhoods are also the target of a lot of the criminal activity from criminal illegal aliens.
Legal Hispanics would be the first to complain about illegal entry…but they have no option now.
Assuming some kind of immigratrion law reform is accomplished…the people granted legal status will not be eligible to vote for 5 or 10 years… if ever. So the assumption that legalizing the illegals is getting votes…maybe not.
July 19th, 2011 on 8:04 am
I know lots of people who have become legal and became legal in 1986 after Ronald Reagan. Many of these people have created businesses and are now working Americans.. None of them have become citizens of the United States, they just stuck to their green cards… So this nonsense about getting votes has no basis whatsoever.
July 19th, 2011 on 8:44 am
“Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.”- Samuel Clemens
Whenever I see statistical detail without a top level summary I get the feeling that the top level summary has been left out because it does not fit the template. But with the data here it is possible to back calculate the top level statistics. So let’s see what these poll figures really say. According to the data listed here there is “52% approval” by those “who do not personally know someone caught up in deportation” (47% of those surveyed). Approval is defined as supporting the lack of progress on “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”. And 52% of 47% is 24%. Also according to the data listed here there is ”35% approval” by those who do personally know someone caught up in deportation (53% of those surveyed). And 35% of 53% is 19%. And 19% plus 24% is 43%. Thus by the definitions in this article fully 43% of Latino Voters approve of President Obama’s lack of progress on “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” versus 57% who do not. That means that Latino Voters feelings on immigration approximately reflect the way they voted Democrat versus Republican in the Bush/Kerry election of 2004. That also means the dire prophecies of Republican disaster for not supporting “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” are just smoke and mirrors created by the manipulation of statistics.
July 19th, 2011 on 9:30 am
I would take it very seriously if I were one of the legal, hispanic, immigrants. Given that the majority of them are illegal and have come in disregard for our laws and cost us $Billions for their overpopulating, welfare-dependent, birth rates. Mexicans’ average birth rate after coming to this country increases about 400% because of the social programs their progeny fetch at our expense. It is an ongoing outrage that makes every decent, legal immigrant look very bad indeed.
July 19th, 2011 on 11:26 am
Well you’re a good liar. It’s good to know that you can spew out lies without having any proof whatsoever to back up your claims. Well I guess that’s just how you think, without actually thinking.
July 19th, 2011 on 10:57 pm
Then you tell Torie that the fact that Hispanic population is growing faster than the immigration (legal or more likely illegal) is a lie. Sorry but 2050 is coming on fast. And we dont want to be Mexico North……….. Breeding machines. This will be fun to watch.
July 19th, 2011 on 9:32 am
This demonstrates why it’s safe to assume the most Hispanics are illegal.
Seal the border for law and order.
July 19th, 2011 on 9:53 am
OK, so what does the fact that 53% of Latino voters know someone who is illegal have to do with their support of immigration reform? Perhaps it is important to them, but it has no bearing on whether or not they are in favor of an amnesty, or for that matter favor stricter immigration policy. The tone of the article seems to suggest that those polled favor granting legal status to illegal aliens, whereas that isn’t what the poll asked.
July 19th, 2011 on 11:30 am
His Serene Majesty the Emperor Barack Hussein Obama II, Lord of the Flies, Keeper of the Hoops, Master of the Greens, Bringer of Kinetic Military Action, Vacationer-in-Chief, Slayer of Osama, and Protector of the Holy Cities of Honolulu and Chicago takes it seriously- After all, an illegal vote still counts in his drive ‘em to the polls world.
July 19th, 2011 on 12:02 pm
Notably the gargantuan problem with illegal immigration, both illegal and illegal is CHAIN MIGRATION. It stems from the initial legitimized individual who attains citizenship can then sponsor family members. Family consists of Wife or Husband, Child under 21and unmarried all all have immediate admittance into the US. A US Citizen can also sponsor a son or daughter who is 21 years old or over, a married son or daughter of any age, and a brother or sister, who falls into the DERIVATIVE category. The derivative classification has a waiting period of many years as it takes to process. The sponsors will need to demonstrate adequate income or assets to support the intending immigrant, and accept legal responsibility for financially supporting their family member, by completing and signing a document called an Affidavit of Support. Sponsoring these family members is all well intentioned and good, but the main issue comes when the sponsor, who must a sign an affidavit of financial support, intentionally or for whatever reason, fails to honor his commitment.
This part of immigration law, is hardly ever enforced so the recipients, have little choice but to apply for welfare assistance from the State and municipal government. The bottom line for any mass amnesty or as recorded Immigration Reform, gives those who are naturalized the right to petition (Form I-130 Petition for alien Relative) for their whole family, to legally enter America. But hundreds of thousands these petitions millions are processed and this has become an escalation of CHAIN MIGRATION, since the 1986. After the Hart/ Celler Act of 1965 when the Bracero Program was disbanded, the incentives and effects of chain migration perpetuated volume illegal migrants and immigration to the United States. In America the term ‘chain migration’ term to enlighten why legal immigration has quadrupled from levels throughout the 1960s. As such, ‘chain migration’ is branded as one of the principal causes of the United States’ current immigrant population explosion.NumbersUSA, a a million plus organization that lobbies Congress for lower levels of immigration, states that, “one of the chief culprits in America’s current record-breaking population boom and all the attendant sprawl, congestion, school overcrowding, health care deterioration, and other impacts that reduce American’s quality of life. NumbersUSA cites the tradition of chain migration to America as a main cause for creating incentives for undocumented immigration.NumbersUSA, FAIR, and other groups are working to change immigration law to limit chain migration laws. NumbersUSA cites a specific bill it supports. “On Feb. 4, 2009, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) introduced the Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R. 878). The bill would eliminate the extended family visa categories (e.g., married sons and daughters of citizens, etc.), thus ending “chain migration” as optional by the bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission in 1997.
Today, passage of the Dream Act is cause for worry or any kind of mass Immigration Reform, would jeopardize the minimum of entrances to the US, through CHAIN MIGRATION. One point to this quandary is America has a major deficit problem, that has risen to new heights of $14.5 Trillion dollars under President obama’s signature hand. Simply put, we cannot afford to be the breadwinner for the rest of the world anymore. If we haven’t the cash anymore to pay the Chinese Investors and others, how can we afford an Amnesty estimated to cost $2.6 Trillion dollars? Never mind the original giant Amnesty of the 1986 Immigration Control and reform Act, cost only 76 Billion dollars. This is just a projection of the Census Bureau’s 11 million illegal aliens who have homesteaded here. But most activist organizations are of the opinion, there are more than 20 million living illegally in the US, while 8 million plus foreigners have employment.
In this dragging recession how can Democrats, even discuss such an issue? Have the liberal progressives lost their minds, when there are 13 million American out of a job? It’s too incomprehensible, to even conceive such an awful situation for the lower income workers having to compete with this new source of potential hires? The majority of illegal aliens today are-ECONOMIC; they are here for their share of discretionary spending at Federal, State or Municipal level.
One of the largest costs that would certainly make a difference is cutting benefits to illegal aliens. $113 Billion dollars, from the Federal government, that is not counting State, County and community for these hundreds of welfare and public services. Few know the amount of money paid out to parents of a child that receives an immediate birthright citizenship. Each child receives entitlements of what US citizens get, even though the parents are illegal.EACH YEAR 300.000 PLUS BABIES ARE SMUGGLED INTO AMERICA IN THE MOTHERS WOMB, TO GAIN THE SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OF A MISINTERPRETED LAW; THE 14TH AMENDMENT. Once here and the parents are allowed to stay, the–ECONOMIC–family can then collect from taxpayers. So what does these entitlements consist of to the taxpayer? For a start cash payments of around $600.00 according to the State, that can double, triple for ever baby born. Food stamps, Medicaid Wicca (WIC) is a nutrition program for women, infants and children), (TANF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Low Income housing. The most disturbing effect of this particular issue, that other family member can join those already here and hid away in their government backed homes.As thousands of people join the TEA PARTY, it is obvious that they have the right avenue towards building a better tomorrow. Their ticket to the 2012 elections is less government, less taxes (A fair taxing system, without loopholes for everybody) and reducing Illegal Immigration to a real trickle. When states like Arizona cannot rely on the US government, to construct the—REAL FENCE—at the border, then it has been forced by huge entitlement programs for foreign nationals crossing our sovereign perimeter to build another 78 miles of the fence through public and commercial donations. States are waking up as the look at their dwindling amounts of money in their treasuries? California, the first Sanctuary State that’s Liberal Congress, gives away freely benefits to millions of illegal alien homes. That’s why they are trying to climb out of a giant financial hole of $26 Billion dollars. Insist you’re Representative in Washington, that they rescind any Immigration reform bills, Sanctuary Cities and state, the Dream Act and anything that has the rotten stench of AMNESTY. Liberals and open border brain-dead individuals, always refer to every foreign aliens, as “Immigrants’” tying everybody together in one population. No matter your country of origin, whether Hispanic, European, Asian or the Pacific Rim, if you come here legally, there should be no fear of the E-Verify and Secure Communities. TO REPEAT ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS. THEY ARE ILLEGAL AND ENTERED A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY WITHOUT PERMISSION. This is a very distasteful situation but birthright citizens and legal non-citizen individuals have a right to be employed over foreign nationals. You can also call the direct lines by dialing:
House Speaker John Boehner — 202-225-0600
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor — 202-225-4000
July 19th, 2011 on 1:34 pm
Most Americans could care less what illegals and their supporters think, as thier opinions only matter to their kind. We know they are a bunch of criminals who mooch off our gov’t. Hispanics hurt their own cause with their arrogant, cocky attitudes and their belief that they are “entitled”. All they are entitled to is a quick deportation back to their own country. Americans also know Obama is a shill and tool for the unions and amnesty crowd.
July 19th, 2011 on 2:15 pm
Is it true that the Hispanic neighborhoods are being victimized by illegal aliens? From what I see on the news they are also being victimized by their local legal Hispanic criminals! (LLHC) (Thers a new one for you!) We should not be shocked by that.
Immigration Reform is nothing more than getting as many of the illegals to be able to vote. Treason. And the end of our country. We will be the Cesspool North. Just think of a future need of a future “Greatest Generation..You going to find it in the Barrio. Nope.
July 19th, 2011 on 5:46 pm
Good example on the news tonight. House near Ajo/Kinney. Nine people and a child living in the house. Four or more home invaders burst in. The owner of the house follows them outside and shoots two, maybe more.
Police says it was not a random hit.
Code= Hispanic and drug related or gang related. When does all of this end.
July 19th, 2011 on 6:17 pm
Well I was right. KOLD just reported what I stated. I wish I was wrong sometimes.
July 19th, 2011 on 10:06 pm
<!– @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>
Ya know what might be a good plan for Everyone. make sure no other illegals cross the borders now. and give the illegals that are here in the US 1 year to earn their citizenship with background checks make sure there not terrorists or major criminals and no charge for citizenship test of coarse certain things would have to be cut in order to pay for that, say no benefits for illegals which there not suppose to get but they do. During that year they get a 1 year pass card make it completely different then a green card/visa and after that 1 year deport the ones that refuse to be citizens, 1 year gives them plenty of time and the ones that do want to be citizens have the opportunity to redeem themselves for breaking the law. The big factor why a lot don’t apply for citizenship is because of money and most of all Fear, this way they are given the opportunity to do the right thing, and they will have nothing to be afraid of and we are not paying for them and there not getting a complete free ride for breaking the law they will have to study to get their citizenship, no automatic amnesty let them earn it with out fear. the ones that don’t earn it those one we go after and deport immediately there will be no excuses for them.
July 20th, 2011 on 9:07 am
How about they just go home. Your answer makes them all citizens. Spitting on all of the other “immigrants” who came here properly and who did it properly. If you think that adding 10 million more illegals is the right way to go then I feel sorry for you.
July 20th, 2011 on 4:11 am
why everybody human the human, Jesus say love the people
July 20th, 2011 on 9:07 am
Yea sure.
July 20th, 2011 on 7:09 pm
Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Too many people want variable morality. They think if you claim to love your neighbor that makes everything all right. If you repent for those you hurt the day before you die everything is absolved. But you cannot build justice for some on the backs of injustice to others. You cannot decide that those who break the law at the expense of those who keep the law are more just without maintaining the delusion that it is good for one person to enrich themselves at the expense of another. Illegal Immigration is just that. It is impossible to maintain the covenant of the Bible by lying, cheating, and refusing to acknowledge the hurt Illegal Immigration does to others.We have immigration limits because five times in the past unrestricted immigration has led to devastating unemployment. Unemployment as bad as 30% nationwide and over 50% in several states. We also have an immigration process so that criminals cannot gain entry into the USA. Illegal Immigration by-passes both controls. You cannot love your neighbors if you do not respect them and the reasons they have for having their laws. Why is it always a one way street when it comes to Illegal Immigration? That love must go only one way? Love is demanded for the person breaking the law, yet there is no love for the poor American forced out of work. No love for the poor Taxpayer forced to pay for it all. No love for the victim of identity theft. No love for the lost green space and the animals that populate it as we sacrifice it on the alter of explosive population growth. Where is the love and understanding?
July 20th, 2011 on 2:30 pm
I wonder if these Citizen Latinos would feel the same if Germans came over to this country and stole, invaded their schools, leeched off of welfare, demanded everything be handled in German, brought disease, filth, crime and went on welfare… not to mention hiring them when so many Latinos are out of work. And then are told…. too bad, your family you sponsored the legal way have to wait longer since we are going to just grant these Germans citizenship.
July 20th, 2011 on 2:32 pm
Don’t like the anti immigrant rhetoric that is aimed at HISPANICS? I will give you a good reason….. MOST ILLEGALS ARE FROM MEXICO.