Posted on 09/19/2008 5:16:03 PM PDT by kingattax
The combination of a lack of jobs due to a worsening economy and an unprecedented series of governmental work raids have got immigrants down in the dumps, according to findings in a new survey.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonprofit research think tank based in Washington, concluded that Hispanics across the country, and in particular immigrants, are increasingly concerned about staying employed and being deported.
According to Pew's annual national survey of Latinos, nearly two-thirds of Latino immigrants said their lives have worsened over the last year and nearly as many fear that they, their relatives or their friends could be arrested at any time and shipped out of the country.
“There has been significant deterioration in the mood of Hispanics,” said Susan Minushkin, the center's deputy director. “Immigrants in particular are much more pessimistic.”
Respondents indicated that increased societal tensions have made them targets of ethnic discrimination and that's why they've had a harder time finding and keeping jobs and homes.
Additionally, 10 percent of immigrants said they were stopped by law enforcement officers and asked about their immigration status. That was the first time the question has been asked, so it's unknown if that is a trend or not.
Most answers varied in percentage depending on whether respondents said they were born here or not, but all Latinos showed vehement opposition to the government's ongoing illegal immigration crackdown.
Eight out of ten are against local police acting as immigration enforcers and nearly just as many disapproved of work-site raids. Majorities also opposed the criminal prosecution of unauthorized workers and the employers who hire them.
Opposition levels decreased when respondents were asked about a voluntary program allowing employers to check government databases for the immigration status of potential hires. Fifty-eight percent of U.S-born Latinos don't support employers signing up, while 63 percent of immigrants don't like the idea.
“This is the only enforcement measure where we find a difference between native- and foreign-born Hispanics,” Minushkin said.
Regarding fears of deportation, 53 percent of immigrants said they worried “a lot” about it, up from 43 percent last year.
The survey also ventured into the political arena, asking Latinos about their preferences. Backing other study results showing Hispanics mostly lean Democrat, 49 percent said the Democratic Party looks out for them — 7 percent said the same of the GOP.
The survey results were not surprising to the Federation fro American Immigration Reform — the country's leading anti-illegal-immigration lobby group — which noted that increased pessimism among illegal immigrants means increased optimism for the country.
“If you're in the country illegally, you should be concerned about law enforcement, just like if you don't pay your taxes you should be worried about the IRS knocking on your door,” said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Washington-based FAIR.
The survey of 2,015 Hispanics — U.S.-born and foreign-born, though immigration status was not asked — was conducted June 9 to July 13. The margin of error is 2.8 percent.
Good!
So does this mean the illegals will soon be heading home?
Geeez. What can we do to cheer them up?
Kind of interesting that they completely left out the word ILLEGAL in front of every immigrant reference...
Not immigrants. People who are here illegally. Immigrants are doing fine.
Awwwwwwwww. How dare we hurt the poor criminals' feelings? Why, we're no better than animals, trying to enforce our laws and such.
Don’t worry, illegals. The next presidente will pass la gran amnistia. McCain or Obama.
Just hide for a few more months.
Good. Leave then.
“The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonprofit research think tank based in Washington, concluded that Hispanics across the country, and in particular ILLEGAL immigrants, are increasingly concerned about staying employed and being deported.”
So? I’m supposed be concerned?
No, registering to vote.
GMTA.
Let's start with the title. "Immigrants..."
As he is too ignorant to bother to look up the word, I have taken the responsibility upon myself, and am willing to share with him what this word means.
dictionary results for: immigrants
American Heritage Dictionary -
This im·mi·grant (ĭm'ĭ-grənt) Pronunciation Key n.
A person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another.
A plant or animal that establishes itself in an area where it previously did not exist.
adj. Of or relating to immigrants or the act of immigrating.
Link to Dictionary
These are not 'immigrants' we are talking about illegal aliens who are here to exploit and consume resources in the area they chose to infest. Once the resources are consumed, not unlike cockroaches, they will move somewhere else to parasite off that area.
Gee, mi corazon is all broken up over this.
Good...now go home !!
FTA: All Latinos were angry over the crackdown on illegal immigrants.
They’d be cheering such a crackdown and demanding deportations if the illegals were from Scandinavia isntead of Mexico and Central America.
Elect Juan McCain?
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