Over 1/2 of US Hispanics Fear Deportation of Family or Friends

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Latinos hurt by immigration debate: study

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The intense debate over illegal immigration has made life more difficult for U.S. Hispanics, the fastest-growing minority in the country, with many fearing deportation and having difficulty finding work and housing, study found.

The report by the Pew Hispanic Center released on Thursday found that just over half of all Hispanic adults in the United States worry that they, a family member or a close friend could be deported.

The study, conducted among 2,003 Latinos in October and November, also found that nearly two thirds said the failure of the U.S. Congress to push through an immigration overhaul earlier this year has made life more difficult for Hispanics.

Immigration, particularly the question of what to do with some 12 million illegal immigrants, is a hot button issue in the United States, and the topic has flared frequently in debate among Republican and Democratic candidates jockeying to be their party's candidate in the presidential election in November 2008.

The survey said smaller numbers of Hispanics -- ranging from about one-in-eight to one-in-four -- said the heightened attention to immigration issues has had a specific negative effect on them personally.

"These effects include more difficulty finding work or housing; less likelihood of using government services or traveling abroad; and more likelihood of being asked to produce documents to prove their immigration status," the report said.

Of the U.S. population of about 300 million, Hispanics numbered more than 43 million last year, up from 36 million five years ago. Some 18 million are first-generation immigrants, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In June, the U.S. Senate rejected a bill seeking tougher border enforcement and a path to legal status for many of the millions of illegal immigrants living in the shadows, most of whom are originally from Latin America.

And my analysis from my blog (http://inkslwc.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/over-half-of-us-hispanics-fear-deportation/):

So if over half of all Hispanic adults in the US fear that a family member or close friend could be deported, this means that OVER HALF OF THE HISPANICS LIVING IN THE U.S. KNOW AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT!  This is ridiculous.  As of now, Hispanics make up over 13% of the people living in America - I know that this survey was only of adults, but let’s just assume (in order to make this easier on me - if you want, go find the make-up of adults).  So that means that in 7 out of every 100 people know an illegal immigrant.  The fact that AT LEAST 7% of Americans know an illegal immigrant and fear that he/she will be deported is RIDICULOUS.

We have to end this invasion - that’s what it is - it’s an invasion!  And I’m not being racist - my great-grandfather came to the U.S. from Mexico and I am PROUD of my heritage.  But when you have a mass group of people coming into a country and using its resources without paying taxes back that is an INVASION plain and simple!  I invented this phrase when Senator Durbin introduced his bill to allow illegal immigrants to join our military as a path to becoming citizens (Response to Durbin’s Amnesty Bill): “Send them back, not to Iraq!”

[Ebowed]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

[MODU]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

Nope, that makes your grandfather an anchor baby.

[Ebowed]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

Nope, that makes your grandfather an anchor baby.

I'm just trying to find out when the transition from worthless low-life criminal illegal alien scum to Proud Citizen of the United States takes place.

That's all.

[MODU]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

Nope, that makes your grandfather an anchor baby.

I'm just trying to find out when the transition from worthless low-life criminal illegal alien scum to Proud Citizen of the United States takes place.

That's all.

When the Government identifies you as a citizen. 

Seriously though, let's look at this "logically:"  If half of the US Hispanics fear deportation of family or friends, does that mean half of the US Hispanics are knowingly aware of people who they are related to or deal with on a personal level that are here illegally?  If that's the case, then yes, they should be concerned because those people are breaking the law.  Now, WILL these people be deported?  Odds are no since the US does not have the resources to deport over 13 Million people within the next few years.

[Cubby]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

Nope, that makes your grandfather an anchor baby.

I'm just trying to find out when the transition from worthless low-life criminal illegal alien scum to Proud Citizen of the United States takes place.

That's all.

When the Government identifies you as a citizen. 

Seriously though, let's look at this "logically:"  If half of the US Hispanics fear deportation of family or friends, does that mean half of the US Hispanics are knowingly aware of people who they are related to or deal with on a personal level that are here illegally?  If that's the case, then yes, they should be concerned because those people are breaking the law.  Now, WILL these people be deported?  Odds are no since the US does not have the resources to deport over 13 Million people within the next few years.

You're looking at it too logically. They are concerned because the ethnic group to which they belong is being targeted by anti-immigrant agitators and has a constant presence in the media. Take it from me, when your peers are under a cloud of suspicion, you don't feel comfortable, either out of solidarity or actual fear. Back in 2004, after the marriage referendums I was worried that there would be another Matthew Shephard type incident in the South due to all the attention to it in the news.

[opebo]

We can only hope that the GOP keeps up its anti-hispanic rhetoric.. regardless of whether deportation actually increases, this racist rhetoric is a huge boon for the electoral future of the Democratic Party in the Southwest..

[MODU]

You're looking at it too logically. They are concerned because the ethnic group to which they belong is being targeted by anti-immigrant agitators and has a constant presence in the media. Take it from me, when your peers are under a cloud of suspicion, you don't feel comfortable, either out of solidarity or actual fear. Back in 2004, after the marriage referendums I was worried that there would be another Matthew Shephard type incident in the South due to all the attention to it in the news.

Which is why I said in the other thread that an educational program needs to be put in place, both domestically and interantionally, that we target all aliens who came here illegally, and not just those from Mexico, Centeral and South America.  While they are the majority, we do have a ton from China and SE Asia in the US as well.  Of course, I still believe that all the people who are currently here illegally due to the deadly slow paper process of the US Gov't should receive an automatic Green Card for the hardship that was unduely placed upon them... especially since they were following the rules.

[Sensei]

I don't.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

If your great-grandfather was an illegal immigrant, doesn't that just make you an anchor baby?

Nope, that makes your grandfather an anchor baby.

I'm just trying to find out when the transition from worthless low-life criminal illegal alien scum to Proud Citizen of the United States takes place.

That's all.

When the Government identifies you as a citizen. 

Seriously though, let's look at this "logically:"  If half of the US Hispanics fear deportation of family or friends, does that mean half of the US Hispanics are knowingly aware of people who they are related to or deal with on a personal level that are here illegally?  If that's the case, then yes, they should be concerned because those people are breaking the law.  Now, WILL these people be deported?  Odds are no since the US does not have the resources to deport over 13 Million people within the next few years.

You're looking at it too logically. They are concerned because the ethnic group to which they belong is being targeted by anti-immigrant agitators and has a constant presence in the media. Take it from me, when your peers are under a cloud of suspicion, you don't feel comfortable, either out of solidarity or actual fear. Back in 2004, after the marriage referendums I was worried that there would be another Matthew Shephard type incident in the South due to all the attention to it in the news.

No - they aren't scared because they know other Hispanics.  They're scared because they know illegal Hispanics.

[Gabu]

I agree, we should deport all illegal immigrants.

So everyone who isn't a Native American, sorry, but you're going to have to pack up and go back to Europe.

[bgwah]

If the GOP really wants another minority group voting 90% Democrat, I'm not going to complain.

[Hash]

I agree, we should deport all illegal immigrants.

So everyone who isn't a Native American, sorry, but you're going to have to pack up and go back to Europe.

[Lief 🗽]

If the GOP really wants another minority group voting 90% Democrat, I'm not going to complain.

^^^^

[MODU]

So everyone who isn't a Native American, sorry, but you're going to have to pack up and go back to Europe.

hahaha . . . good thing my ancestors became members of the Choctaw and Cherokee tribes during the Indian relocation movements of the 1800s.