Hispanic Heresy: What Is The Impact Of America's Largest Group Of Immigrants?
by Angel L. Reyes

Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from the book, "Hispanic Heresy: What Is The Impact Of America's Largest Group Of Immigrants?" published by Mead Publishing, January 2009.

Politics and Justice for Hispanics in America

Two pivotal issues need to be understood and addressed as Hispanics expand and assimilate into America: politics and justice. Two treasured cornerstones of being American are the right to free elections and the right to a fair trial. This chapter addresses these concepts.

The Third Rail of American Politics

How will Hispanics affect democracy in America? The Hispanic population is undoubtedly booming. But many Hispanics are ineligible to vote due to the fact that one third of the Hispanic population increase in recent years is a result of immigration. These recent immigrants are not citizens, and therefore, do not have voting rights. Although another third of the increase in Hispanic population growth are American citizens through birth, they are not of voting age yet.

Politically speaking, Hispanic immigrants are similar to the third rail on the New York City subway system. This is the rail that carries power or electricity to run the trains and as such no one dares to touch it. President Bush learned this when he tried to bring undocumented immigrants into the mainstream if they paid taxes, learned English and paid a fine. The Republican base revolted and conservative talk show hosts began screaming, “Just what part of ‘illegal’ do you not understand?â€