Immigration08 Blog

Posted 09/11/08 at 08:34pm by Web Team

In Their Own Words: Key Developments in the Immigration Debate

Despite efforts to downplay the importance of immigration in this election cycle, the debate continues across the country. Here is a round-up of recent key developments in the immigration debate, presented "in their own words":

  • Speaking before the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Senator Barack Obama said: "This election is about the 12 million people living in the shadows, the communities taking immigration enforcement into their own hands. They are counting on us to stop the hateful rhetoric filling our airwaves, and rise above the fear, and rise above the demagoguery, and finally enact comprehensive immigration reform...we cannot deport 12 million people. Instead, we'll require them to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for citizenship - behind those who came here legally. At the same time, we'll secure our borders and crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers. That's how we'll reconcile our values as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws."

  • NDN released the results of their eagerly-anticipated poll of how immigration is playing out in critical "battleground states" (Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico): "In each of these four states, voters: Overwhelmingly support what has been called Comprehensive Immigration Reform, including a "path to citizenship" for undocumented immigrants; Have a positive view of undocumented immigrants, believing that they have come here to work and seek a better life, are not taking jobs from American citizens and are not interested in receiving public handouts; Blame the federal government and business for the broken immigration system, and do not blame the immigrants themselves."   

  • Bishop John Wester, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) committee on migration condemned recent immigration raids, saying: "The humanitarian costs of these raids are immeasurable and unacceptable in a civilized society. I call upon the Department of Homeland Security and President (George W.) Bush to reconsider the use of these worksite enforcement raids, and without the implementation of necessary human rights protections, to please abandon them. We ask them and the country, including the presidential candidates, to again turn their energies for building support for a comprehensive overhaul of our broken immigration system."

  • Johnston County, NC Sheriff Steve Bizzell, who was featured prominently in the first general election advertisement for Senator Elizabeth Dole, caused a wave of controversy by: condemning "illegal immigrants for ‘breeding like rabbits'," calling Mexicans "trashy," claiming that "illegal immigrants ‘rape, rob and murder' American citizens," and asking "How long is it going to be until we're the minority?" Sheriff Bizzell, who was the President of the N.C. Sheriffs Association, also has promoted harsh policy crackdowns, helping to "make North Carolina one of the most aggressive states in the nation for deporting illegal immigrants."  

  • The Washington Post highlighted that a status report assessing another notable local immigration crackdown location, Prince William County, VA, found "Fewer than 2 percent of people charged with crimes in Prince William County since the well-publicized crackdown on illegal immigration began in March have turned out to be undocumented, Police Chief Charlie T. Deane told county supervisors yesterday." The article also highlighted a plummeting lack of trust in the local police department among the Hispanic population, reporting that "97 percent of Hispanics were satisfied with police in 2005. This year, Hispanic satisfaction with police has decreased to 73 percent."

Posted 08/22/08 at 07:42am by Frank Sharry

Introducing Immigration08.com

As the 2008 election nears, immigration will no doubt play a major role in deciding the winners and losers. America's Voice is leading the charge by sponsoring a project that will track the impact of immigration as an issue in these elections. We want comprehensive immigration reform to be a top priority for the elected officials who prevail in November. In fact, it is our view that road to common sense reform cuts right through the November election.

Immigration, although not on a par with the economy as a top tier concern of voters, has now risen to an established second tier issue. And it is our prediction that the issue will be used in elections at all levels like never before, especially by Republicans who believe the issue is an effective wedge that will make them look tough and Democrats look soft. In 2005, 2006, and 2007 some Republicans tried it out, hoping that illegal immigration would turn out base voters angry about illegal immigration and win over culturally conservative swing voters in much the same way that crime, welfare, affirmative action, and gay marriage have in the past. Despite the fact that the issue just didn't seem to work in these three election cycles, many operatives and candidates believe that the storm of opposition to last year's comprehensive immigration bill presages a bigger reaction from voters this cycle.

Meanwhile, Democrats are beginning to understand that if you are for a common sense solution, and you lean into the issue, you can appeal both to swing voters and the growing Latino population, the largest immigrant voting population. Still, some Democrats are spooked by the issue and still not convinced.

Hence this project. Immigration08.com will track key races in which immigration may prove to be a critical, even decisive issue. We will evaluate quantitatively how this issue plays out in the Presidential, key Congressional, and close gubernatorial campaigns and on Election Day. We will track the ads being broadcast, the press coverage of immigration issues, and commentary on the elections. Key constituencies and voter blocs will be targeted with pre- and post-November 4th polling to get underneath what is happening and how immigration impacted close elections.

Our prediction? We believe we will learn, as we did in the last three cycles, that illegal immigration works well for Democrats who lean into it, rather than for Republicans who demagogue it. But the facts will be the facts, and the chips will fall where they fall.

And who are we? America's Voice is part of our reinvigorated effort to pass comprehensive Immigration Reform. We ourselves are a new organization that is focusing primarily on communications, but we are working very closely with other components of our campaign, in particular the We are America Alliance, which is gearing up to mobilize a million new voters in 13 states running in the lead up to November 4th. We believe that the combination of an historic turnout of immigrant voters for whom immigration reform is a defining issue and the failure of illegal immigration as a wedge issue will help create more political space for reform. In addition, we are going to be working towards a revamped policy effort and a more effective grass roots effort so that in the first term of the next President we are able to actually enact common sense reform that works. Stay tuned.

Posted 08/20/08 at 05:43am by Celinda Lake

Advice on talking to voters about immigration

As we all know, the immigration issue is here to stay. Candidates can no longer duck and hide from the debate and election results will be largely affected by what was and was not said about the issue during the campaign.

For far too long, politicians have avoided the conversation, believing that no comment was the low risk strategy. But that strategy is failing Democrats, and polling has clearly shown that attacking the issue of immigration head-on with voters is the most effective tactic. Whether you are campaigning in immigrant-rich Arizona or union-based Michigan, candidates are successful when they discuss immigration directly.

Despite Republican attacks and smear campaigns, candidates who are outspoken about immigration continue to succeed. Governor Janet Napolitano, even after being attacked repeatedly, holds a very high favorability in a strongly Republican state. The Governor has been firm, both by talking about the needs for securing the border and the fact that it is simply unrealistic to deport everyone. Such success is telling, especially given the strong feelings in what is commonly referred to as Ground Zero for immigration.

Gerry Connelly, a Fairfax County Executive and current candidate for Congress, has been aggressive by dialoging with voters about enforcement policies and cracking down on employers. Furthermore, he has balanced his argument by stressing the important of providing services while also creating an effective path to citizenship. As a result, he was reelected with record numbers and is ahead in the general election for a Congressional District that is historically Republican.

Our research and polling has shown that candidates have spoken up about immigration can win. To be successful, you need to dialogue with your voters, lean into this issue and talked about the system being broken. Talking about what kinds of reforms, including legalization as well as enforcement, is the most powerful and effective tactic with voters. We know this is a ground breaking approach, but it is time to shake up the conventional wisdom of immigration strategy. To win, Democrats need to get aggressive and speak out about immigration.

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