Thread: Immigration Replaces Economy as Top Latino Issue

Immigration Replaces Economy as Top Latino Issue

June 13, 2011

By MIRIAM JORDAN

U.S. immigration policy has eclipsed the economy and jobs as the top issue for Hispanic voters, according to a national poll released Monday.

Asked to name the most important issues facing Hispanics, 51% of respondents cited immigration. Another 35% said the economy and jobs, while 18% said education.

The poll of 500 Hispanic registered voters, both immigrants and U.S-born, was conducted by the independent research firm Latino Decisions and co-sponsored by Spanish language media company ImpreMedia.

"Our poll suggests immigration politics are now key to Hispanic voters," said Gary Segura, a professor of political science at Stanford University who runs Latino Decisions.

A poll conducted last November of the Hispanic voters by the research group November found 49% of all respondents put the economy and jobs first. Immigration was cited as the main concern by 23%.

As states like Georgia, Alabama and Arizona continue to pass tough laws to curb illegal immigration, "this issue is going to continue to resonate with this electorate," said Mr. Segura.

Since last fall, both English- and Spanish-language media have heavily chronicled record deportations and controversial enforcement policies promoted by President Barack Obama's administration and recent public appearances by Mr. Obama to support an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws.

The economy continued to batter Latinos. They have high foreclosure rates, and the Hispanic unemployment rate was 11.9% in May compared with 9.1% for the overall U.S. population.

Yet, "Latino voters are saying they want policymakers to deal with immigration. They understand this is something you can address with legislation, unlike the economy," said Matt Barreto, a political science professor at the University of Washington who runs Latino Decisions with Mr. Segura.

About 11 million immigrants, mainly from Latin America, reside in the U.S. illegally, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, an independent think tank.

As an issue, immigration touches Latinos across multiple generations and socioeconomic status. Asked whether they knew an undocumented immigrant, 53% of the poll's respondents said they did. Of those surveyed, 25% said they knew someone who had been detained or deported by immigration authorities.

Latino voters, growing in numbers, are crucial in presidential battleground states such as New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado.

Mr. Obama's failure so far to kick-start an immigration-law overhaul, has siphoned Hispanic support from the Democratic Party. But the new poll's results serve as a warning to Republicans, who generally oppose legalization, as well as granting illegal immigrants drivers licenses, in-state tuition rates and other benefits.

Democrats favor giving workers who are unlawfully in the U.S. without permission, if they pay a penalty and start paying taxes, among other things.

In 2010, 60% of Latino voters supported Democrats in U.S. House races, compared with 38% who backed Republicans, according to exit-poll data reviewed by the Pew Hispanic Center.

Latino Decisions surveyed voters between May 24 and June 4 in 21 states with the largest Hispanic populations, comprising 95% of the U.S. Hispanic electorate. The margin of error is plus or minus 4%. Interviews were conducted by bilingual interviewers.

http://online.wsj.com

Well, what do you know, immigration is at the top of my concerns as well.