The Immigrant Magazine. Resources for Immigrans in America.

PERSPECTIVES :
Election 2008

 

 

The Power of the Immigrant Vote
In an election year,
everyone has to cross the fence

 

 

 

By Yvette Fernandez

 

 

What happened to all the immigrants?

The Immigration debate, which sizzled during the primary campaign, ignited ardent flames of controversy, and now, the issue is too hot to handle. Immigration suddenly seems to have been left to burn itself out of the election.

Was the anti-immigrant cry in the name of American patriotism so loud and so strong, it sent all the immigrants “back where they came from?” Absolutely not--and it wasn’t for lack of trying.

When last we left this saga, late last year, we were constructing double walls across the U.S./Mexico border and beefing up security to keep out the mojados (wetbacks) and alambristas (fence-jumpers). After all, in the collective perspective of the myopic anti-immigrant American, “illegals” are all from Mexico. That reminds me of the behind-the-scenes story I worked on where I was enlightened with terms used by Border Patrol Agents who wrote up the illegal crossers in two categories: Mexicans and OTM’s (Other than Mexican). Well, I suppose it was a little more tolerant than the other, less official descriptive: “tonk”-- the sound you hear when someone is hit over the head with a baton. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, we cried foul to any politician who even dared to utter the word “amnesty.” And we began passing local ordinances and laws making it unlawful just to rent an apartment to undocumented immigrants. Then, like a made-for-TV sequel during sweeps, we needed to push the edge to get more attention, so we moved with vigor and strength—dispatching I.C.E. to deport the “illegals.” It all made for great video!

The fall-out from the red-hot Immigration hit everyone hard—not just the immigrants.
Those who screamed the loudest have been essentially silenced. The most anti-immigrant Presidential contender, ex-GOP candidate Tom Tancredo and his vocal compadres have been kicked to the curb like day laborers looking for a job.
Now the ones caught in that proverbial spot—between a wall and a fence,” are the politicians! They must take a strong stand on the issue, as polls show most Americans favor Immigration Reform. But their stand cannot be so draconian or punitive or they risk being “Tancredified!” But the real clincher is these same politicians must take note of the power of the immigrants. Immigrants are also the most wanted voters--and with good reason.
According to a report by the Immigration Policy Center, issued during the last Presidential election, Foreign-born citizens accounted for 54.9 percent of the net increase in people registered to vote in the U.S. The report found that there were 10.7 million adult immigrant citizens in the United States in 2000, of whom, 6.2 million registered to vote. But here’s the real interesting fact: only 58 percent of foreign-born citizens were registered to vote in 2000, compared with 70 percent of native-born citizens. But immigrants turn out to vote in higher numbers!
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks bills introduced in Congress, more than 1,500 anti-illegal immigrant laws were proposed nationwide last year, with nearly 250 passing. Some of that legislation is now creating legal and financial trouble for state governments.

States like Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona are now feeling the backlash of their anti-immigrant hard line where it hurts—in their wallets. Oklahoma and Arizona passed the nation’s most comprehensive anti-immigrant laws: restricting immigrants’ access to driver’s licenses and other IDs, penalizing employers who hire them and strengthen ties between local police and federal authorities. While these measures hit immigrants hard, businesses also felt the blow. Now, Arizona businesses are banding together to combat these initiatives. Agriculture and Construction businesses, in particular, are set to begin actively recruiting as many as 60 thousand workers in the twin border cities: Nogales, Arizona, U.S.A. and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
This isn’t to say the hard-liners are now repentant. And we are reminded of this each time we see an I.C.E. raid. What we also need to be cognizant about is: a hard-line is usually followed by a backlash. And the most difficult aspect to accept is, after the fall-out, both sides are forced to find some middle ground.
“Identity Politics” is a term increasingly used during this Presidential Campaign because there is a black man and a white woman running for the office. But identity politics should not just be used as a descriptive of the candidates. Voters also have political identity.
Nearly one in 10 of the nation’s 3,141 counties have a majority of “minority” residents. Los Angeles County’s minority population of 7 million is by far the largest, accounting for 1 in 14 of the nation’s minority residents. (*WashingtonPost.com) Yes, the Latino population is the most significant by number, but there are immigrants from all over the world who call the city of Angeles their new home.

The Immigrant vote will have a significant impact on the 2008 Presidential election. Interestingly, the top issues: the economy, the war in Iraq and health care are the same issues at the top of the list for U.S. born citizens. It’s just that they are seen through the eyes of the Immigrant experience.

This experience will become even more entrenched in the U.S. political and social structure in the future, as the American born children of Immigrants become the country’s strongest group of voters.

 

 

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2008 Election Primaries Already in Full Steam:
Any Solutions for America's Immigration Problems?

By Nfor Julio Barthson
Special to "The Immigrant Magazine"

This year, American citizens at home and abroad will participate in what most political pundits and international observers generally agree may be the nation's most important presidential election in a lifetime. The November 2008 election will literally determine the next leader of the free world after 8 years of George W. Bush. Read More