Thread: Hispanics claim rise in discrimination

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01552.html

Hispanics Cite Rise In Discrimination
Immigration Debate Is Called a Factor

By Darryl Fears
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 14, 2006; Page A09

Hispanics believe that discrimination has risen since the start of the congressional debate over illegal immigration, according to a survey released yesterday.

But they also think their group is more galvanized after the pro-immigration marches that resulted from the debate, and many believe they are on the verge of a major social movement, according to the survey by the Pew Hispanic Center.

"Nothing produces a sense of unity more than a common threat," said Roberto Suro, the center's director. "Feeling like you all face the same problem really brings people together. You can see that happening in these results."

In a departure from past polls, both native and foreign-born respondents said they feel empowered to create change. Fifty-eight percent said they believe that Hispanics, though coming from a variety of national, ethnic, cultural and political backgrounds, are working to reach similar political goals.

In a 2002 survey, nearly half said Hispanics were not striving toward a common political objective.

The 2006 survey, conducted by telephone for a month starting in June, was described by the center as the first major opinion poll of the Hispanic population since the policy debate and marches in April and May.

In December, Republicans and some Democrats in the House approved a plan to build a wall at the Mexican border, increase patrols and work toward expelling many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

Illegal immigrants and their supporters poured into the streets by the millions for demonstrations. A bipartisan group of senators eventually introduced legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to pay a fine and stay in the United States while strengthening border enforcement. President Bush favored the latter plan.

Congress has yet to approve either plan. Meanwhile, Hispanic leaders have vowed that if illegal immigrants are threatened with expulsion, they will take further action with boycotts, demonstrations and increased voting among those who are eligible. Some opponents of illegal immigration have promised to protest against political leniency with their vote in the midterm elections in November.

In the survey, three-quarters of respondents said more Hispanics will vote in those elections. The percentages did not waver much between foreign-born Hispanics (74 percent) and native-born ones (76 percent).

But there is indecision over which party to vote for, the survey shows. Although most Hispanics in the survey believe that Democrats have taken the better position on the immigration issue, the party is not favored by much.

Thirty-seven percent said Democrats have more concern for Hispanics, compared with 9 percent for Republicans. Another 37 percent said there is no difference between the parties in their attitudes about Hispanics.

"It's not surprising that this does not translate cleanly into partisan terms," Suro said. "Both parties are divided."

Among native-born Hispanics, opinion was almost evenly split between those who favored Democrats (42 percent) and those who said there was no difference (40 percent).

More than half of Hispanics -- 54 percent -- who responded to the Pew Hispanic Center's survey reported discrimination, although the survey did not describe the types of bias they encountered. Foreign-born Hispanics who could be ousted from the country if tough legislation against illegal immigrants in the House passes were far more likely to say discrimination is a major problem.

"This isn't just an immigrant thing," Suro said. "It's clearly affected the native-born and foreign-born population."

Quote
Nothing produces a sense of unity more than a common threat," said Roberto Suro, the center's director. "Feeling like you all face the same problem really brings people together. You can see that happening in these results


Roberto is so right, on the other side, this same problem of illegal immigration has galvanized the opponets of illegal immigration to a common cause.

and many believe they are on the verge of a major social movement

They are on the verge of a movement, SOUTH

many believe they are on the verge of a major social movement

As long as the movement for the illegals is back to where they came from.

I disgusts me that the OBL is dragging Americans of Latino heritage into travesty.

But they also think their group is more galvanized after the pro-immigration marches that resulted from the debate, and many believe they are on the verge of a major social movement, according to the survey by the Pew Hispanic Center.

It galvanized me - I got royally peeved to think that illegals felt they had the right to get treated like the citizens of this country. Horse pucky

There is certainly going to be a successful social movement but not what these political folks want, amnesty. Over the next six years under the administration of President Felipe Calderon there is going be a tremendous upswing in job creation back in Mexico. There will be channels for grassroots investment from here and Mexicans and Mexican Americans regardless of status will do well by doing good. It will thereby bring change. The illegals here will have better opportunities to go back to than they left.

Originally Posted by Richard

There is certainly going to be a successful social movement but not what these political folks want, amnesty. Over the next six years under the administration of President Felipe Calderon there is going be a tremendous upswing in job creation back in Mexico. There will be channels for grassroots investment from here and Mexicans and Mexican Americans regardless of status will do well by doing good. It will thereby bring change. The illegals here will have better opportunities to go back to than they left.

I sure hope so, but sometimes I'm from Missouri -- "I'll believe it when I see it".

I sure hope so, but sometimes I'm from Missouri -- "I'll believe it when I see it".

Dat's funny!

In a 2002 survey, nearly half said Hispanics were not striving toward a common political objective.

I'm guessing they didn't have a common objective until the House introduced 4437.

I'm sure that scared them rotten.

Anyone else tired of hearing the discrimination crap? I know I am.

I wish the illegal immigrant community would come up with something real to accuse Americans of.
Its pretty obvious they can't.