Majority of Latino voters believe it’s ‘very or extremely important’ for Congress to
Majority of Latino voters believe it’s ‘very or extremely important’ for Congress to pass immigration reform
BY Erica Pearson
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 2:22 PM
The future of the Republican Party may rest with Latino voters who will blame the GOP for not making changes in legislation, pro-immigration group America's Voice says.
Nearly three-quarters of Latino voters say it's "very or extremely important" to pass immigration reform in 2014, a new national poll released Tuesday found.
"Latino voters are paying close attention and expect Congress to act this year, overwhelmingly," said Matt Barreto, co-founder of research firm Latino Decisions, which conducted the poll for left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress.
The new data comes as reform legislation stagnates in the House.
President Obama decided to postpone a review of deportation policies because he believes a window still exists this summer to pass a bill. Obama and some fellow Democrats feared that discussing making changes to deportations could interfere with reform's chances in the House.
By a 3-to-1 margin, Latinos will blame the GOP if reform doesn't pass, the poll's researchers found. When asked if they had ever voted for a Republican candidate in the past, 49% said yes.
"I think what it suggests is that the future of the Republican Party is at stake," said Frank Sharry, executive director of pro-immigration group America's Voice.
"If Republicans don't get it right with Latino voters, I think they're heading over the demographic cliff."
However, neither party is getting high marks on the issue, found the poll of 800 registered voters.
Forty-nine percent strongly or somewhat approve of the job Democrats in Congress are doing handling immigration policy, while 25% approve of how Republicans are acting on reform.
Obama's approval rating on immigration policy is 54% among Latinos, the poll found.
"For Obama, that's not a runaway approval among Latinos," Barreto said. "Latino voters are frustrated on all fronts."
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.1815543
