Immigration debate irks Hispanics
‘We will vote … to give a lesson to the xenophobic crowd,’ leader says
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS – The debate over how the U.S. should treat illegal immigrants – fueled by rallies in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and other cities across the nation – could push more Hispanic voters to the polls this year, some Hispanic leaders say.

Max Montesino, president of the Hispanic Leadership Coalition of Northeast Indiana, said he expects a backlash from immigrant voters, especially Hispanics, this November against legislators who want to remove all undocumented aliens.

“Now immigrant people are realizing they have to register and they have to vote,” he said. “I truly believe they will be surprised in November. It is really energizing the immigrant community.”

Montesino organized a rally in Fort Wayne on April 2 that drew more than 1,000 people. He said a future “gathering of reflection” will be at 5 p.m. May 1 at the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre.

He said most Hispanic Americans have a relative or friend who is undocumented.

“We will vote en masse to give a lesson to the xenophobic crowd and those in Congress who agree with them,” he said.

The Hispanic vote nationwide has lagged behind other groups. About 18 percent of Hispanics voted in the 2004 presidential election, compared with 51 percent of whites and 39 percent of blacks, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, a non-partisan research organization supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

In Indiana, a 2004 study by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials showed about 80,000 Hispanics are citizens and voters.

Another 80,000 are citizens but not registered to vote, said Ricardo Gambetta, director of Latino affairs for Indianapolis.

Hispanics make up about 4.4 percent of Indiana’s population, representing the fastest-growing ethnic group in the state, according to the most recent census numbers.

With the immigration debate, Hispanics may believe they have more of a stake in the outcome of elections this year, officials said.

“There is great potential,” Gambetta told the Indianapolis Star for a Friday story. “The community is becoming more active in the political process statewide.”

John Nieto-Phillips, associate professor of Latino studies at Indiana University, said the immigration bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, which would make felons out of undocumented immigrants, has galvanized the Hispanic community.

“It will not fade in their memories,” he said. “They will not forget.”

Frances Vegasaw, state director for Hispanic/Latino outreach at Ivy Tech Community College, agreed.

“Hispanics will come out (to vote) in numbers. I really believe that,” Vegasaw said.

Both Democrats and Republicans in Indiana have taken notice, especially after this week’s Indianapolis rally of about 20,000 people marching against the immigration bill.

“They demonstrated to the world they can organize,” said Bill Oesterle, who managed Republican Mitch Daniels’ 2004 run for governor.

Robin Winston, former chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, saw intensity in the crowd.

“There’s too much passion and too much energy for that not to be channeled” into political action, Winston said.

Although both Allen County Democrats and Republicans said they hoped to take advantage of the expected increase in Hispanic voters, Montesino said the issue likely won’t help one party over the other.

Efrain Escobedo, director of voter engagement for the Los Angeles-based National Association of Latino Elected Officials, said the immigration issue has given “an opening to the Democrats.”

But he said Hispanic voters will choose leaders who advance their interest in other issues as well.

“We are up for grabs,” he said.


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