Racist Roots of Republican Party Immigration Policy

by: Joel Wendland
February 16 2011

Republican extremism on immigration could cost them at election time, especially in states with significant Latino populations, recent polling data appears to confirm.

According to pollster Fernand Amandi, Latino voters are reacting strongly against Republican immigration policies that emphasize mass deportation, racial profiling of Latinos, or other punitive measures such as harassment by police or withholding medical care to immigrants.

On a conference call with reporters this week, Amandi said, "As long as the Republican Party’s rhetoric and policies continue to be as extreme and harsh as they have been, you’ll see more and more Latinos leave the GOP not just in 2012, but for a lifetime.â€