This mess was created from the lack of enforcement of laws, now it has become so political with Senators and Representatives running scared, the chance of sound, enforceable policy coming out of this body is slim to none. Now you know.....
From IBD:Posted 4/18/2006
Republicans who take the Hispanic vote seriously are right to worry about how they're handling the immigration issue, results of the latest IBD/TIPP Poll suggest.
The survey of 969 Hispanic adults taken last week found that 70% say their votes in November hinge on the immigration issue, that four times as many think Democrats can deal with the issue better than Republicans and that 73% are likely to vote for the party that offers amnesty for illegal immigrants now in the U.S. — a concept anathema to the GOP.
Of the 27 million Hispanics ages 18 years or over, only 9 million (33%) are registered to vote. And only 7.6 million (28%) voted in the 2004 presidential elections. The poll respondents cannot be considered "likely voters," and heavy turnout among Hispanic Republicans may explain why President Bush is believed to have garnered more than 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004.
Still, the Hispanics surveyed by IBD/TIPP were remarkably monolithic in how they felt on immigration. Responses varied little based on age, gender, income, party affiliation, length of time in the U.S., whether they view themselves mostly Hispanic or mostly American, and whether mostly English or mostly Spanish is spoken in the home.
Among the poll's major findings:
• A steady migration from independent to Democrat. More than 57% of Hispanics new to the U.S. (one to five years) identify themselves as independents. But that percentage steadily erodes to the point where only 33% of those here 21 years or more still list themselves as independent.
Republicans pick up some of the defections — with 13% identifying with the GOP after 21 years compared with just 2% of those here one to five years.
But Democrats are the main beneficiary, with their percentage swelling from 15% to 43%. (See chart.)
Overall, 43% of Hispanics count themselves independent, 31% Democrat and 9% Republican. Republicans outnumber Democrats only among Hispanics with incomes of more than $50,000. They represent only 12% of the total.
Among Republican Hispanics, households with incomes under $40,000 account for 43% and over $40,000 represent 39%, as compared with the Democrats' 63% under $40,000 and 23% over $40,000.
• Immigration's the big issue. The percentages of Hispanics who say immigration will "largely determine" how they vote in November were lowest among those who consider themselves "mostly American" and who speak mostly English in the home. But even among these subgroups, 67% and 61% say immigration will be key.
• A "guest worker" program is desirable and "amnesty" is even more so. Of the respondents, 64% said they are "more likely to vote for the party that supports a guest-worker program" as part of any immigration reform. Here, too, support was across the board.
Interestingly, guest-worker support was strongest among those making less than $30,000 a year (71%) and those making more than $75,000 (71%). Among age brackets, the strongest support was from those 65 and up (70%).
And significantly, 63% of Hispanic Republicans want a guest-worker program (vs. 71% of Democrats and 67% of independents).
Of the 73% who agreed they are "more likely to back the party offering amnesty to illegals," 63% said they did so "strongly." The biggest supporters of amnesty were Hispanics who've been here 11 to 15 years (88%). Most lukewarm were those who consider themselves "mostly American" (50%).
Strongest supporters of amnesty were those making less than $30,000 and ages 18 to 24. Hispanic Democrats backed amnesty 82%, independents 78% and Republicans 61%.
The sharpest breaks by party came when respondents were asked which party would do a better job dealing with immigration. Democrats think they're the most competent by 6-to-1 over Republicans. Hispanic Republicans backed their team 16-to-1.
• Assimilation may be a slow boat. Overall, 58% of Hispanics surveyed spoke only Spanish or mostly Spanish in their homes. Another 22% spoke both Spanish and English equally. Mostly English, but some Spanish, was spoken by 13% and English only by 6%.
Even after 21 years in this country, 37% still speak only Spanish and mostly Spanish, and the English-only percentage climbs to just 13%.
The poll was taken April 3 to 14 by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence.
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