Posted on 10/28/2006 4:19:36 AM PDT by stan_sipple
The outcry over illegal immigration is helping to unite a Latino voting bloc that, 10 years from now, could be large enough to make or break local elections in Nebraska, says the author of a new study of Hispanic political participation.
Projected number of eligible Latino voters in Nebraska 2006: 32,000 to 38,000 2016: 42,000 to 66,000 2030: 63,000 to 145,000
Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, a University of Nebraska at Omaha political scientist who prepared the report, said conventional thinking has been that Latino voters represent too many nations, socioeconomic backgrounds and ideologies to approach political matters in lockstep.
However, the ongoing and emotional debate over illegal immigration has led to Nebraska Latinos being "collectively painted with the same brush," he said.
"What happens when you get attacked?" he asked. "You huddle together to weather the storm."
His report - "Latino Political Participation in Nebraska: The Challenge of Enhancing Voter Mobilization and Representation" - is a research project for UNO's Office of Latino/Latin American Studies.
Nebraska has 1.7 million residents, and census figures show that about 122,500 are Latino. Examples of the growing Latino clout, according to the UNO researchers:
• The proportion of Latinos in Nebraska is expected to at least triple in the next 25 years, from 7 percent to more than 20 percent, regardless of any change in current immigration policy.
• The estimated 32,000 to 38,000 eligible Latino voters in the state today is projected to grow to between 42,000 and 66,000 in 2016. Areas such as south Omaha, Lexington and Schuyler will have greater Latino concentrations, and that could sway local elections.
• By 2030, eligible Latino voters are expected to make up about 15 percent of the Nebraska electorate, up from 4 percent.
Benjamin-Alvarado cautioned that Nebraska communities could wind up with an underclass if they don't integrate the expanding Latino population into the political process.
Predatory lenders swoop in on disenfranchised groups, he said. Disconnected residents might turn to lawlessness and welfare rolls.
"Nebraska, everybody, wins when Latinos are part of the system," said Benjamin-Alvarado. "Latinos can become valued, contributing citizens in our society."
An April demonstration - in which up to 15,000 mostly Latino marchers took to the streets of Omaha to oppose the criminalization of illegal immigrants - left no doubt about the potential impact of that population, Benjamin-Alvarado said.
However, he said, there is much to be done to realize the power of what many referred to as the sleeping giant. That means registering more voters, creating better working conditions that enable political participation and easing immigrants' path to citizenship.
Nebraska Latinos appear less politically engaged than those in other states. Nearly half of the state's Latinos are U.S. citizens. But only 17 percent voted in the 2004 presidential election, the report said, compared with 29 percent for Latino citizens nationally.
Community organizations such as the Nebraska and Iowa Immigrant Rights Network have held voter registration drives. Latino groups also have stepped up by broadcasting Spanish-language voting announcements on national television.
One of the outgrowths of the debate over illegal immigration, Benjamin-Alvarado said, has been an anti-immigrant and anti-Latino sentiment.
Other Latino leaders in Nebraska said they find that disturbing but agreed that diverse groups within the Latino population have stood together.
"We are more united, especially now that there is so much publicity about immigration issues," said Elba Cera, a native of Chile who co-founded Latinas Unidas.
Yet another valid argument for mandatory voter ID.
We better find a way to get them on our side. At least half of them anyway. We cannot afford not to lose the entire group of hispanics that is for sure.
If we build the fence, then ten years from now it won't be a problem.
Build the fence, punish employers who employ them, and boycott their businesses. That will pretty much solve the problem.
As the UNO illegal immigrant panderer said we better let this guy register to vote or he might start a vast underclass of crime and welfare
Anchor Babies.
having kids: doing the job Americans wont do anymore
If they choose to be... They must immigrate legally to become "citizens" of the USA.
"We better find a way to get them on our side. At least half of them anyway. We cannot afford not to lose the entire group of hispanics that is for sure."
"Our biggest challenge will be to separate my uncle from the rest of the Republican Party." George P. Bush
“‘This is a President who represents the diversity of our society, who we can count on to change the Republican Party to represent OUR views.’" … He told the rally his mother had instilled him the values of Cesar Chavez, the Chicano activist who fought for the rights of migrant farmworkers in the United States. ‘She told me we have to fight for OUR RACE, we have to find the leaders who represent US,’ he said in fluent Spanish.’" George P. Bush
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/865000/images/_865697_10_300.jpg
Build a wall, enforce the law, and send them ALL packing.
The "professor" made no distinction between illegal and legal immigrants. I doubt legal immigrants (whatever their country of origin) who come here to give their love and allegiance to America, are going to identify with illegals.
What an insult to the many fine conservative naturalized American citizens who don't buy into the victimization status that the socialist democrats and this idiot professor are selling.
Everything about this article is wrong. I give up - no further comment.
Only because we allow these absurdly large blocks into the country in thr first place. Deport all illegals and their illegal anchor babies now.
Dems hoped to form a minority underclass in perpetual servitude. However, so-called Latinos do not identify with blacks, maybe partly because there have always been Hispanics in the West, and they are not all poor.
Cindy Gonzales
The OBL is bi-partisan and, in spite of the WOT, our Republican President has refused to secure the border. If you think 300 miles of fence, if that, is going to do it, you're wrong.
Nothing will change until the OBL is put out of business.
The first word (Backlash) tells it all. Why is it a "backlash" when Americans just want illegal immigrant laws enforced? Do other types of criminals band together in protest when an arrest is made of one of their own?
OBL:
"The illegal immigration issue remains thorny and unsolved. Ultimately, however, it remains more symptom than cause: the way to reduce illegal immigration is to make Mexico's economy grow faster than that of the United States."
Robert Pastor's testimony to the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Is that all these people do?
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