Dump Trump: Immigrants rush to seek citizenship, right to vote

[sinkspur]

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article68340787.html

Dump Trump: Immigrants rush to seek citizenship, right to vote

Many legal immigrants seek to vote

Recent citizenship workshops drew heavy turnout
 
BY DIANE SMITH

March 27, 2016

Ricardo Malagon’s new U.S. citizenship offers stability and protection for his immigrant family.

The bonus? Now he can vote.

Malagon said he has not decided who will get his vote for president in November, but Republican front-runner Donald Trump is not among those he is considering.

“He is not right in the head,” said Malagon, 31, who became a citizen in August as Trump pushed his anti-immigrant platform. “He just wants to deport the immigrants — especially the Mexicans.

Malagon and others say the political rhetoric about Mexicans motivates those involved in the “Donald Trump wave,” an unprecedented get-out-the-vote effort among immigration advocates.

“We don’t have a country if we don’t have borders,” Trump says on television, in his platform video and during rallies. “We will build a wall. It will be a great wall. It will do what it is supposed to do — keep illegal immigrants out.”

While protesters are common at Trump campaign rallies — including one in downtown Fort Worth last month — other immigration advocates have moved beyond the name-calling and are participating in efforts help legal immigrants gain citizenship, in part so they can vote.

“Trump is a great incentive for Hispanics to become citizens and vote against that type of thinking — anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti-American,” said Juan Hernandez, a Fort Worth political consultant and co-founder of the Hispanic Republicans of Texas. “I say that as a Republican.”

A February citizenship workshop at the Mexican Consulate in Dallas drew more than 300 people, prompting officials to conduct another in March.

“This is not controversial. We are not talking about undocumented immigrants,” said Rebecca Acuna, executive director of the Latino Center for Leadership Development in Dallas. “The people who are attending these clinics are people who did it the right way.”

Trump’s campaign did not return requests for comment.

Because the voter registration deadline for the presidential election is Oct. 1, legal immigrants seeking citizenship are up against a clock. It typically takes about six months for the citizenship paperwork to be processed, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Last year, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, the Dallas field office received 5,304 naturalization applications, an increase of 16.5 percent from the same period in 2014, when the number of applicants was 4,553.

“People are paying close attention to what the candidates are saying,” said Sandra Tovar of Fort Worth, DFW coordinator for Mi Familia Vota, a group that is helping Hispanics register to vote.

Nationwide, 27.3 million Hispanics are eligible to vote this year, according to the Pew Research Center. Of those, 1.2 million became citizens between 2012 and 2016.

‘Feelings are hurt’

While immigration reform has long been a big issue among Hispanics, state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., D-Fort Worth, said Trump’s popularity has served as a wake-up call that they need to vote.

In the past, many resident immigrants from Mexico — legal immigrants with green cards — trusted the U.S. government and felt valued, so they didn’t rush in to apply for citizenship.

But now they see co-workers and neighbors supporting Trump and are fearful of what could happen if he becomes president.

“The immigrant community’s feelings are hurt,” Romero said, adding that many believe that citizenship will bring added protection for their families.

Hernandez said the Mexican consulates are encouraging immigrants who are U.S. citizens to practice their rights and vote.

Mexican leaders including former President Vicente Fox have also criticized Trump’s plans via social media. Earlier this month, President Enrique Peña Nieto likened Trump to Hitler and Mussolini.

Many immigrants are also displeased that lawmakers — including President Barack Obama — have not passed laws that address immigration reform, Hernandez said.

THE SECOND-LARGEST SOURCE OF HISPANIC VOTER GROWTH IS AMONG ADULT HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY AND BECOME U.S. CITIZENS BY NATURALIZATION, ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER.

He said they are angry about a high number of deportations and the handling of Central American children who arrived here unaccompanied. In 2014, thousands of families and unaccompanied children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador arrived at the nation’s southern border. Central Americans cited high levels of crime as why they fled their homelands.

And, Hernandez said, many are worried about the future of Obama's immigration executive order, which goes before the U.S. Supreme Court next month.

Obama’s order expanded a program that allows young people who were raised in the United States without status to live and work here temporarily. That program is called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Another program provides temporary protection for an estimated 4.1 million undocumented parents of U.S.-born children or legal immigrants.

“We are disappointed with the president because he didn’t promote any of his promises to Hispanics,” Hernandez said.

‘Full of shock and fear’

Proyecto Inmigrante ICS, a immigration counseling service with offices in Fort Worth and Wichita Falls, has citizenship programs year round to help immigrants fill out their paperwork at low cost.

In Fort Worth, a citizenship clinic that typically draws about 50 people drew about 100 on March 12, immigration counselor Andy Beltran said.

“It was a surprise by 10 a.m., we already had 100,” Beltran said.

WHAT I HEAR IS: ‘WHAT IF HE GETS ELECTED? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US?
Anael Luébanos, president of the Federación Zacatecana de Fort Worth, Texas

Beltran said many people told her they want to vote in this election because “we don’t want the person who is talking about immigrants a lot to be president of the United States.”

Beltran said they are referring to Trump.

Hernandez said immigrants are alarmed by Trump’s platform.

“We are full of fear and shock of what would become,” Hernandez said.

Trump has said he is in favor of legal immigration and has promised to have a big door in his wall for legal immigrants.

“People are going to come into this country legally,” Trump has said.

Paola Garza, 24, of Dallas, who is voting for president for the first time this year, said immigration reform is more complex than Trump is making it out to be.

“Truth is, there needs to be a reform in our immigration process and a more comprehensive approach,” she said.

Garza’s family is originally from Monterrey, Mexico. She became a U.S. citizen in April 2013. Her family came to the United States when she was 5 so her father could work in the auto industry in Michigan. She supported Democrat Bernie Sanders in the Texas primary.

Trump is not an option, she said.

“I cannot side with someone who has spoken negatively about immigrants, refugees, the pope, women and minorities,” she said. “I believe this is not what the United States stands for; we are a nation of immigrants and diversity.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article68340787.html#storylink=cpy

[Sanguine]

Well, in all fairness, this is what they said they would do 7 years ago.  Just coming to fruition.

[Sanguine]

True. Now, look at the demographics in the next 10 years, 20 years, and beyond. If the GOP goes the route of total alienation of the Hispanic population with a Trump they are destined to become a permanent party in the minority (Pun intended). Once a voting group is alienated it takes decades to get them back. Look at the African-American voting bloc which is always around 90% democrat no matter what. The Hispanics are going to be the largest minority voting bloc even if we have a sealed tight border. Much higher birth rate.

Cuky, I'm not worried at all about hispanic Americans.  They're Americans and well integrated and divided between democrats and republicans.  I am worried about newly immigrated people from Mexico and other socialist latin american countries.  That's a whole different population.  Republicans aren't going to attract them unless the Republican party becomes one of Big Government and Big Brother.  Oh - wait....they have.  And, still aren't attracting those new immigrants.  Hmmm....

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

True. Now, look at the demographics in the next 10 years, 20 years, and beyond. If the GOP goes the route of total alienation of the Hispanic population with a Trump they are destined to become a permanent party in the minority (Pun intended). Once a voting group is alienated it takes decades to get them back. Look at the African-American voting bloc which is always around 90% democrat no matter what. The Hispanics are going to be the largest minority voting bloc even if we have a sealed tight border. Much higher birth rate.

Demographics shift isn't the issue the media makes it out to be, at least not long term. I saw an article which that increasingly Hispanics were identifying as white, meaning that "white people" may actually never become the minority majority the media assumes it will. And "hispanic" isn't a race, just a group of spanish-speakers, even within countries like Brazil and Mexico there are "white people" and "black people". My guess is that with enough time, hispanics/latinos would become another group like Irish and Italians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/upshot/more-hispanics-declaring-themselves-white.html

[sinkspur]

Demographics shift isn't the issue the media makes it out to be, at least not long term. I saw an article which that increasingly Hispanics were identifying as white, meaning that "white people" may actually never become the minority majority the media assumes it will. And "hispanic" isn't a race, just a group of spanish-speakers, even within countries like Brazil and Mexico there are "white people" and "black people". My guess is that with enough time, hispanics/latinos would become another group like Irish and Italians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/upshot/more-hispanics-declaring-themselves-white.html

Like Asians?  Asian-Americans were always reliably Republican up until all the Tea Party nuttiness, then they voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2012.  And they'll back Hilary over Trump, for sure.

A candidate who speaks disparagingly of immigrants (and all immigrants hear is "immigrant" not "illegal") is not going to do well among the 28% of the minority population.  And you can't win without at least 40% of Hispanics.

[HonestJohn]

True. Now, look at the demographics in the next 10 years, 20 years, and beyond. If the GOP goes the route of total alienation of the Hispanic population with a Trump they are destined to become a permanent party in the minority (Pun intended). Once a voting group is alienated it takes decades to get them back. Look at the African-American voting bloc which is always around 90% democrat no matter what. The Hispanics are going to be the largest minority voting bloc even if we have a sealed tight border. Much higher birth rate.

Their voting power will grow logarithmically as well.  With the first generation of children born in America now able to vote and the second wave eligible to vote by the next Presidential cycle, they aren't going to vote for those demanding that their parents be deported.

Nor will they vote for candidates demanding the end of birthright citizenship.

Add in how these Americans can then file to have their parents 'come' to America as legal immigrants... and those 11 million illegals some rail against are now US citizens that can vote.  And *THOSE* citizens are not going to vote for anyone that figuratively spat on them and tried to throw them out of the country.

Right now there are 54 million Hispanics legally in the US.  Add in another 11 million... and the Republican party has alienated 65 million Americans.

Couple that with the 45 million African-Americans and the Republicans have alienated 110 million Americans.

That leaves 190 million Americans left.  Muslims and Jews aren't voting Republican, so you've chopped another 5 million each out of the pool of voters.

180 million left.

But we've alienated Asian voters this cycle as well.  (War with China?  Trade wars with Japan and China?)  That's roughly 20 million right there.

160 million left.

In essence, Republicans are trying to win the election by denigrating nearly HALF of the US population.  (And we haven't even begun to talk about the attacks on women in general during this election cycle).

The only reason these trends aren't completely killing us as yet... is that many of these voters are young and haven't bothered to get up and actually vote.  But every year, they get a year older and more likely to vote.

And we keep escalating the rhetoric.

---

We could also talk about how the largest voting block for the Republican party are retirees.  They aren't going to be here for many more election cycles... and just who is on tap to replace them once gone?

[HonestJohn]

Cuky, I'm not worried at all about hispanic Americans.  They're Americans and well integrated and divided between democrats and republicans.  I am worried about newly immigrated people from Mexico and other socialist latin american countries.  That's a whole different population.  Republicans aren't going to attract them unless the Republican party becomes one of Big Government and Big Brother.  Oh - wait....they have.  And, still aren't attracting those new immigrants.  Hmmm....

Bush II received roughly 40% of the Hispanic vote.
McCain... 31%
Romney... 27%

I see a trend.  And I don't think Trump's reversing this.  He's probably poured gasoline on the fire, accelerating it.

---

We have got to stop our rhetoric against blacks, hispanics, non-christians, asians... and just about everyone who isn't a WASP.  (let's not forget the attacks on the Pope, for Pete's sake!   [LOL])

And we'd better start reaching out for their votes.  Crafting policy that benefits every American... and is not unduly targeting them.  (ending birthright citizenship is a good example of a proposal that specifically targets them)

[Sanguine]

... My guess is that with enough time, hispanics/latinos would become another group like Irish and Italians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/upshot/more-hispanics-declaring-themselves-white.html

I understand why you would think that, but I have to point out that when Italians and Irish came over, you had to be fit, have some sort of family here who would vouch for you, there was no safety net, no welfare system and a sense that America was a great place to be.  We are now attracting an entirely different population and they are coming here for entirely different reasons.  There is no compelling reason for them to assimilate, and why would they think they wanted to anyway?  America owes them!  You don't have to do a damn thing, other than arrive to be taken care of by those rich, evil, capitalist Americans now.  Totally different times.

[sinkspur]

Bush II received roughly 40% of the Hispanic vote.
McCain... 31%
Romney... 27%

I see a trend.  And I don't think Trump's reversing this.  He's probably poured gasoline on the fire, accelerating it.

Trump's at 16%.

[Sanguine]

Sanguine, you are always a pleasure to discuss things with I agree in part with what you wrote. I strongly agree with the need for a secure border and the idea that new immigrants are overwhelmingly Democratic voters. However, the idea of Hispanics, self-identifying as whites not-withstanding (which you did not write), the Hispanic voting population is the fastest growing segment in all studies and we should not be alienating them. When polling them on different issues they are actually very conservative and would fit well into a conservative Republican party. I do think the Republican party can attract large numbers of them without becoming a Big Government party.

And, you too!  A scholar and a gentleman. 

I would like to think you are correct.  Perhaps if we learn, change our tactics while staying true to our principles, we can make some headway.