Anti-illegal immigration tone alienating Hispanics

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/anti-immigration-tone-alienating-hispanics-162054757.html

By JERI CLAUSING | Associated Press – 15 hrs ago

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Republican Party is beefing up its minority outreach nationwide and preparing to put its rising Latino stars on the campaign trail amid concerns that tough immigration rhetoric in the presidential primary is taking on an increasingly anti-Hispanic tone.

But illegal immigration-rights groups and some political watchers say the damage may be irreversible. They argue that the GOP has severely hampered itself as it looks to woo the critical Latino voting bloc that could decide who wins key states like New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Florida next fall.

Mitt Romney "is done," said DeeDee Blase, founder of Somos Republicans in Arizona. "He'll be lucky to get 8 percent of the Hispanic vote" after saying he would veto legislation that would create a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants and accepting the endorsement of anti-immigration activist Kris Kobach, architect of two of the strongest immigration crackdown laws in the country.

The GOP front-runner, Romney has referred to the legislation — called the DREAM Act — as a handout. The measure would allow some young illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to earn legal status if they went to college or joined the military. Challengers, including Texas Gov. Perry, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, have also taken tough anti-immigration stances in the campaign.

Language from them has been so sharp that even New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, has warned the candidates to watch their tongues.

"What we have to do is this: We have to tone down the rhetoric, and we have to have a sincere, honest conversation with the voters," Martinez said Wednesday, shortly after the Republican National Committee announced that it had hired a director of Hispanic outreach and was expanding its Latino-focused efforts. She's among the popular Hispanic politicians Republicans will deploy to battleground states in the coming months.

There's a reason for the urgent tone coming from Republican leaders on this matter.

The government projects Hispanics will account for roughly 30 percent of the population by 2050, doubling in size and boosting their political power. Overall, Hispanics traditionally tilt Democrat, meaning the Republican Party is looking at a threat to their future power if they don't work to make inroads with this politically pivotal group now.

Democrats have strengthened their standing with Hispanics in the most recent presidential election years. While much was made during the Democratic primary of 2008 of President Barack Obama's perceived weakness among Hispanics, he won 67 percent of their vote in the general election to 31 percent for Republican John McCain. It was a huge jump from 2004 when Democratic nominee John Kerry won Hispanics by 53 percent to 44 percent for Bush, a Texan who focused heavily on Hispanics.

Some worry that this year's eventual GOP nominee won't fare much better than McCain four years ago — and may fare worse — if candidates don't soften the way they talk about immigration.

"It's an emotional issue, and I think if the candidate can realize that and talk about it, you can still be conservative on immigration and talk about it in a way that doesn't turn off Hispanics," said Jennifer Korn, executive director of the Hispanic Leadership Network. She agreed that "some of the rhetoric could be pared back a bit" but disagreed that presidential candidates are shutting out huge blocs of Latino voters.

The issue is about to push to the forefront as the race for the GOP presidential nomination moves to Florida after South Carolina votes Jan. 21.

Korn's group is sponsoring its third conference in February in Miami, one day before it sponsors a debate with CNN.

Newt Gingrich, who supports a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, is the only presidential candidate scheduled to speak at the event.

Mindful of the challenges, the Republican National Committee unveiled expanded efforts to woo Hispanics last week.

Party Chairman Reince Priebus said the national party had hired Bettina Inclan as director of Hispanic outreach and was implementing a "multifaceted approach to connect with the Hispanic community" that will include digital outreach, traditional voter identification and get-out-the-vote efforts. It is also putting teams on the ground in key states, he said, and will tap popular GOP Hispanics like Martinez, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Yet even as they announced boosted efforts, Priebus and Inclan downplayed the impact the immigration issue will have come November, emphasizing the unemployment rate among Hispanics is at 11 percent, almost two points higher than the national average.

"We need to address it," Inclan said. "We need to talk about it. But poll after poll shows the No. 1 issue for Latinos in this country is going to be how they are going to feed their family."

Democrats, meanwhile, are making the GOP's task harder. Obama's campaign is way ahead in its grassroots outreach to Hispanics thanks to the fact that he doesn't have a primary opponent. His re-election campaign has had teams long in place on the ground in states like Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. And volunteers already are knocking on doors and conducting voter registration drives and weekly phone banks to shore up the Latino base.

But illegal immigration is also a weak spot for Obama ahead of the November election. His campaign pledge to overhaul the immigration system remains unfulfilled — which he blames on lack of cooperation from Republicans in Congress — and he's been criticized for a record number of deportations last year — 400,000.

As Obama gears up for a re-election contest, his administration has modified some immigration regulations. The Department of Homeland Security announced in August would focus deportation efforts on criminal illegal immigrants. Earlier this month the Obama administration proposed new rules to cut down on the time Americans are separated from their illegal immigrant spouses and children waiting outside the country for a visa to enter the U.S. About 75 percent of the hardship applications to waive the wait were filed by Mexicans, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

[xebec 195]

Is everyone that disagrees with special waiver program for illegal immigrants a racist also? How about Mexican-Americans who disagree? I live in a community that is 85% hispanic, and I know many who are quite opposed to this sort of legislation.

[momof1 205]

It's not legislation or a change to any existing law. It's a procedural change in keeping with congress' original intent when it approved for waivers of inadmisdibility under section 212 of the act. Waiver approval still is not guaranteed or easy. Denied applicants will be served with notices to appear. It only applies to unlawful presence grounds for spouses and children of USCs. It doesn't apply to other grounds or those with fiance or LPR relatives.

Remember that children cannot file petitions for their parents AND even when they are of age to file they aren't qualifying relatives for waiver purposes. This isn't some mass legalization.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Is everyone that disagrees with special waiver program for illegal immigrants a racist also? How about Mexican-Americans who disagree? I live in a community that is 85% hispanic, and I know many who are quite opposed to this sort of legislation.

Why don't you sum up for me what this particular procedural change (not legislation) is about.

Then (after you fully understand the changes) ask your Mex-Am friends if they would be opposed to it.

Then come back to us after you're better informed.

Edited January 16, 2012 by Rebecca Jo

[Obama 2012 1,714]

so much could be solved with a tall border fence and gun turrets on the border. People would learn quick not to come in here illegally.

[xebec 195]

Why don't you sum up for me what this particular procedural change (not legislation) is about.

Then (after you fully understand the changes) ask your Mex-Am friends if they would be opposed to it.

Then come back to us after you're better informed.

The last paragraph (which you referenced) sums it up quite nicely- you need it done for you again? Someone who reflexively throws the race card onto the table is probably the one who needs to be better informed....just sayin' You pedantically pop off about summarizing and becoming more well-informed, and your response to this entire piece is to call the poster a racist. I'm sure the irony escapes you.

This particular modification to our existing legislation (existing law, passed by the legislature) is simply the tip of the spear. Search Thomas for the 100 plus private bills (proposed legislation) for the relief of individual illegal aliens.... when you are better informed, just keep it to yourself.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

The last paragraph (which you referenced) sums it up quite nicely- you need it done for you again? Someone who reflexively throws the race card onto the table is probably the one who needs to be better informed....just sayin' You pedantically pop off about summarizing and becoming more well-informed, and your response to this entire piece is to call the poster a racist. I'm sure the irony escapes you.

This particular modification to our existing legislation (existing law, passed by the legislature) is simply the tip of the spear. Search Thomas for the 100 plus private bills (proposed legislation) for the relief of individual illegal aliens.... when you are better informed, just keep it to yourself.

If you'll go back and read my original post regarding racism (Post #2) you'll see it was addressed to Kip. There was a reason for that. So check your reading comprehension skills before you jump all over me, okay?

I'm not opposed to changes in law or procedure that make it easier for people to legally immigrate to the US. The particular offenders who would be able to avail themselves of this change would have to pay fees and go through the regular visa process. Just like the rest of us. I'm not opposed to this, nor am opposed to other paths that break down the tedious process of US immigration.

[natty bumppo 289]

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

If you'll go back and read my original post regarding racism (Post #2) you'll see it was addressed to Kip. There was a reason for that. So check your reading comprehension skills before you jump all over me, okay?

I'm not opposed to changes in law or procedure that make it easier for people to legally immigrate to the US. The particular offenders who would be able to avail themselves of this change would have to pay fees and go through the regular visa process. Just like the rest of us. I'm not opposed to this, nor am opposed to other paths that break down the tedious process of US immigration.

When you actually get a clue on the US immigration process then feel free to come back here and post with the big kids. As it is that bill does nothing but reward people that knowingly and willingly broke the laws of the United States of America by entering this country illegally. It's nothing more than a cheap sick play for votes while p*ssing on every one of us who made the decision to go through the US immigration process legally.

Seriously Iv'e seen you give bad advice to peeps on this board more than once in regards to US immigration rules. It gets tiresome.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The Department of Homeland Security announced in August would focus deportation efforts on criminal illegal immigrants.

DHS needs more money. If you are upset with this, demand that ICE receive more tax payer funds, donate to ICE, or vote for someone who believes in strict enforcement of EMPLOYERS.

Earlier this month the Obama administration proposed new rules to cut down on the time Americans are separated from their illegal immigrant spouses and children waiting outside the country for a visa to enter the U.S. About 75 percent of the hardship applications to waive the wait were filed by Mexicans, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

So US Citizens who are married to illegal immigrants, be they from mexico, canada, poland might have their years long wait cut down slightly. Ok makes sense, remember people who leave the country and wait for the waiver are doing it the legal way.

[xebec 195]

If you'll go back and read my original post regarding racism (Post #2) you'll see it was addressed to Kip. There was a reason for that. So check your reading comprehension skills before you jump all over me, okay?

Yes, I acknowledged that in the form of the question I posed (Is everyone that disagrees with special waiver program for illegal immigrants a racist also?) I agree that reading comprehension skills are beneficial. You are a master of irony.

I'm not opposed to changes in law or procedure that make it easier for people to legally immigrate to the US. The particular offenders who would be able to avail themselves of this change would have to pay fees and go through the regular visa process. Just like the rest of us. I'm not opposed to this, nor am opposed to other paths that break down the tedious process of US immigration.

I agree with this also. How is funneling an indeterminate number of proven scofflaws into our already overburdened legal immigration system going to help break down the tedious process? I don't want to be seperated from my family any more than the people who would be affected by these changes. I haven't, however, considered illegally bringing them here, because I'm not willing to pay the price imposed for illegal behavior.

Edited January 16, 2012 by xebec

[Ban Hammer 12,867]

one post making personal remarks about another poster removed, post returned below minus the personal remark

It is not news that Hispanics have long voted Democrat, mostly because of GOP immigration policy.

Insofar as the final paragraph, I see this as progress. The waiver process is lengthy, and the proposed rule change still requires the illegal entrant to leave the US for consular processing abroad.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=95356a0d87aa4310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8a2f6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

one additional post removed for quoting the above when it contained the personal insult.

Edited January 16, 2012 by charles!

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

When you actually get a clue on the US immigration process then feel free to come back here and post with the big kids. As it is that bill does nothing but reward people that knowingly and willingly broke the laws of the United States of America by entering this country illegally. It's nothing more than a cheap sick play for votes while p*ssing on every one of us who made the decision to go through the US immigration process legally.

Seriously Iv'e seen you give bad advice to peeps on this board more than once in regards to US immigration rules. It gets tiresome.

Knock it off, Kip. You're full of hot air.

one post making personal remarks about another poster removed, post returned below minus the personal remark

one additional post removed for quoting the above when it contained the personal insult.

Charles, I'm going to challenge you and the entire moderating team to stop protecting these bigots on VisaJourney.

There was NOTHING in what I posted towards Kip that violated the TOS. Nothing. And it's not the first thing I've posted towards Kip or Gary that has been deleted or changed in the last few days. Yet if they choose to sling an insult at me it gets left on the board.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

So US Citizens who are married to illegal immigrants, be they from mexico, canada, poland might have their years long wait cut down slightly. Ok makes sense, remember people who leave the country and wait for the waiver are doing it the legal way.

This is true and I believe it was part of the INA of 1996. The law allows for filing a waiver in certain cases. And the law is quite specific on who and under what circumstances one is eligible. Check out Section 212(a) of the INA for more info on the waiver for grounds of inadmissibility.

[Ban Hammer 12,867]

Seriously Iv'e seen you give bad advice to peeps on this board more than once in regards to US immigration rules. It gets tiresome.

i disagree with the above - rj is one of the very few i depended on for good advice throughout nessa's journey.

to suggest that rj doesn't have a clue is laughable.

Edited January 17, 2012 by charles!