[jackbenimble]

Wasn't that the same fear in 1986?

Exactly. The 1986 Amnesty was a Republican deal pushed through by Ronald Reagan and Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY). Where are the political benefits?

Prior to that time, California had been a reliably red state and had voted Republican in 9 out of 10 elections between 1952-1988. After the amnesty which took a few years, California, where a large percentage of those Hispanics lived, swung blue and a Republican has not had a chance there since. The only winning strategy there for Republicans is to be tough on illegals. It worked for Pete Wilson and it worked for Arnold when he promised to repeal Gray Davis's drivers licenses for illegals pandering.

If Hispanics are God's gift to conservative Republicans why is the best we have ever done with them about 40% and more typically 30%?

[Dane]

Prior to that time, California had been a reliably red state and had voted Republican in 9 out of 10 elections between 1952-1988

And also during that time, another border state, Texas, has turned into a reliably red state.