Juan Pablo Rivera Garza
Blogs Editor
Ever since the devastating electoral results awoke Republicans to their problem connecting with Hispanic voters (Mitt Romney receiving only 27% of the Latino vote), attempts to restart comprehensive Immigration reform has moved to the fore-front. Immigration reform has been a very elusive and difficult issue for legislators, and has a long history of failed pieces of legislation. But the ever increasing number of undocumented workers and the growing Hispanic electorate are sure signs that in the coming year, some form of reform will pass the House and Senate. Here’s what you need to know:
Cannot be Ignored
There’s no doubt about it, both sides of the aisle did not predict the influx of Hispanic voters last election cycle (10% of the electorate is now Hispanic). The newfound power Hispanics have in American Electoral politics has caused both sides to change
up their outreach. Much has been made about the fact that the Republican party needs to adapt to the growing Hispanic population, but Democrats also have cause to worry. Many Latinos are unsatisfied by the job President Obama has done in terms of immigration. If the President doesn’t deliver on reform, then the Democratic party could potentially be damaged greatly.
Watch Out For Marco Rubio
The man many consider to be the frontrunner for the Republican Presidential ticket in 2016, has made it his objective to build up a reputation as a pragmatic reformer. Since the election, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has voiced his support for a comprehensive set of reforms, including a “path to citizenship” for the nation’s undocumented. Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, has attempted
to paint himself as a friend to Hispanics, while at the same time keeping his strong relationship with the conservative wing of the Republican party. In recent days he has reached out to these conservatives through a multitude of mediums, especially Rush Limbaugh’s radio show. Keep a lookout for his actions, because chances are where he goes the rest of the Republican party will follow.
A Growing Coalition
Unlike many of the issues of the day, Immigration reform seems to have an almost unifying power, bringing together many on both sides of the aisle. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post opinion poll, a whopping 55% of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. An even bigger surprise is the fact that the Christian Right has joined alongside their traditional liberal enemies to fight for reform, not to mention the ever present
support from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The ever-growing show of support for reform has increased pressure on Washington greatly, and if Congress and the President fails to pass a new immigration law, then the result could be a devastating midterm election for both parties.
The fact that both parties have turned their attention to Immigration reform is a testament to the power of the Hispanic electorate. This issue will not be going away anytime soon, because the future of both parties depends on it.
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