http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4048219

immigration
Poll: Latinos in step with pro-immigrant marches
Events viewed as advancing activism
By Anne C. Mulkern and Elizabeth Aguilera
Denver Post Staff Writers
DenverPost.com

Massive pro-immigrant marches held across the country this past spring have ignited a new social movement among Latinos who feel a sharp increase in discrimination, a survey released Thursday shows.

Nearly two-thirds of 2,000 Latinos surveyed by the Pew Hispanic Center perceive those marches as a turning point for a lasting activism. Three-fourths said the immigration debate will drive more Latinos to vote in November.

Which political party would benefit from that fervor, however, isn't clear. Neither party has made gains with Latinos, according to the survey.

"The survey shows very clearly that Latino public opinion was affected by all these events," said Gabriel Escobar, co-author of a report on the survey. "One of the effects is this greater sense of political mobilization, political unity. ... The question is whether that translates into something."

Nearly three-fifths of those surveyed - 58 percent - said they believe the immigration-reform debate has increased discrimination, a sharp increase from four years earlier, when 44 percent said discrimination was a major problem.

In Colorado, several Latinos interviewed Thursday said they agreed with the survey's findings on rising discrimination.

"When people see you, they make a judgment, and they hear you speak English and they make another judgment," said Maria Saenz, an Aurora teacher. "You can always feel the discrimination. It's not anything you can put your finger on, but it's there."

"I have in my entire life never seen this kind of environment," said Centennial resident Jennifer Herrera, an organizer of the Denver immigration marches. "I've had people shouting in my face, 'Go back to Mexico,' which would be difficult because I'm from California."

Juanita Mejia, who was at a library in Aurora on Thursday with her two children, said discrimination makes it more difficult for everyone - even legal residents such as her.

"Even now, they are saying not to rent apartments to people," she said. "People look at you with suspicion and also because of the language."

While more people in the survey blamed Republicans for an increase in negative attitudes toward Latinos, it also showed Democrats haven't made clear gains with Latino voters. The survey showed party affiliation has shifted some since 1999, when 48 percent of Latinos said they were Democrats.

In the 2006 survey, 42 percent of those surveyed who were registered to vote were Democrats, 22 percent were Republican and 20 percent were independent.

"It's not clear there's a big shift imminent for November," said Robert Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center.

The survey did not ask people whether they were legal residents. Of those surveyed, 49 percent said they were registered voters.

The survey shows Latinos don't speak with one voice on immigration issues.

Asked about proposals for cracking down on illegal immigration, including fences along the southern U.S. border and increased Border Patrol agents, Latinos born in the U.S. were more accepting of tougher measures than foreign-born Latinos.

That shows that Republicans who take a tough stance on illegal immigration can attract Hispanic voters, said Will Adams, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., the leading House hard-liner on immigration.

"The Republicans' tough stance on illegal immigration is not the death knell that Democrats want it to be," Adams said.

Abraham Perez, an immigrant who owns a car-repair shop in Aurora, said he hopes that the marches and demonstrations will lead to increased political involvement - and eventually more Latino representatives.

"It's the only way for anyone to look out for Latinos," he said.

Perez said discrimination is nothing new; it's just more visible. He feels he waits longer for service in government offices because he is Latino and his English is choppy. And he alluded to new state laws restricting illegal immigrants' access to some public services.

"You can see the discrimination in the laws," he said. "But everyone pays taxes. If you work, you pay taxes. If you go to the store, you pay taxes. If you buy gas, you pay taxes. Where is all that money?"

Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña said the marches kicked off activism among groups that now are encouraging Latinos to register to vote.

"Those registered voters are then going to discover who it is ... who were voting their interests and who were not voting their interests," Peña said. "Here in Colorado, I think the sentiment is that Democrats have been more supportive of immigrants."

The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group, regularly surveys Latino attitudes. The poll was conducted June 5 through July 3.