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