Polls predict President Biden’s immigration relief measures will give him a boost among battleground state Latinos, a key demographic group ahead of the November general election.
Days after Biden’s order, former President Trump told a podcast host that he would essentially award a green card to every U.S. college degree earned by a foreign national, a proposal that is popular among business circles but would likely require a act of Congress.
The transition of the immigration debate to a buyer’s market for certain groups follows years — if not decades — of polls that show the general public is largely in favor of a fair immigration system.
Biden’s announcement, which promises a path to citizenship for nearly half a million undocumented immigrants married to or adopted by U.S. citizens, changed a pattern that many immigrants thought was set in stone.
“Since the beginning of the Trump era, there has been a feeling that things are only going to go backwards, and this is a significant announcement – a really significant announcement, and proof that we can actually move forward in a way that is really good for these families. ,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas).
Public debate on the topic has focused on security and law enforcement — with in-depth argumentation about specific policies such as building walls or Title 42 expulsions — while discussion of the immigration system itself is often framed around of broader concepts such as “comprehensive immigration reform” or “path to citizenship.”
Over the past two decades, no major bills have been passed to reform or improve immigration processes, even though law enforcement funding has more than tripled since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created in 2003.
This has made many immigrant communities skeptical that any beneficial changes are on the way; Immigration and border policy has been a one-way street for a generation.
A survey of voters conducted between April and May in swing states by Equis found both parties overwhelmed with Hispanics on immigration: just 38% of respondents said they trust Biden and Democrats on immigration, while 41% trust Trump and Republicans.
The vast majority of respondents said their problem with Democrats is that they haven’t implemented reforms, and their problem with Republicans is that they are too tough.
“Broken promises” by Democrats were listed as a top concern by 72 percent of respondents, and 65 percent listed failure to create a path to citizenship.
Trump’s denials reached 64 percent of respondents concerned about his “extreme measures” and “racism and division,” and 62 percent about “border politics and chaos.”
Proposals like Trump’s green card, which has already been criticized by restrictionist groups that generally support him, have historically been a priority for business interests and immigrant groups from East and South Asia.
This is unlikely to be a hit with Latinos, but it’s also unclear at this point whether Biden’s ad is attracting supporters.
A separate poll conducted by UnidosUS in mid-May found that the economy is by far the most important issue for Latino voters, but when it comes to immigration, 53% said their top priority is providing a path to citizenship for immigrants. long-term undocumented immigrants, and 42% said their top priority is providing a path to citizenship for long-term undocumented immigrants. percent pushed for a path to citizenship for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the country as minors.
The top law enforcement concern for that survey’s respondents was the crackdown on human smugglers, listed by 29 percent, followed by 28 percent who cited the need for more border security.
These priorities are far from a secret among Latinos — an entire ecosystem of advocacy groups has been pushing for help for immigrants for decades.
“First, Latino voters, like other Americans, are frustrated with the situation at the southern border and the apparent impasse in Washington in reaching a solution. This frustration is demonstrated by the greater openness to a variety of options that Latino voters may not have considered before, but this frustration should not be misinterpreted as a fundamental shift among Latino voters,” said Clarissa Martínez de Castro, president of the Initiative for UnidosUs Latino Vote. .
“What is clear from our polling is that the top immigration priority for Latino voters continues to be providing relief to the long-term undocumented in this country, and Latino voters are more frustrated with the lack of support for immigrants than with the situation in the country. border.”
That’s why Biden’s immigrant relief initiative, which essentially makes it easier for qualified undocumented immigrants to clear their paperwork, has been met with full support from advocacy groups, especially those on the left.
Along with the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and its sister program, the 2014 Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), Biden’s announcement is the only major victory in decades for those who prioritize a path to citizenship.
But it remains to be seen whether Biden’s program – which is expected to begin accepting applications in August – will result in green cards for half a million spouses and adopted children of US citizens, or whether it will suffer the fate of DAPA.
DAPA never enrolled beneficiaries because it was blocked by lawsuits and essentially buried by the Supreme Court in 2016, in a 4-4 decision that upheld a lower court’s injunction.
“There was enormous excitement around the announcement of DACA and DAPA and then, tragically, DAPA took the huge blow that it did,” Casar said.
“I think this one could end up being of enormous importance, because there is so much despair in mixed-status families and in Latino neighborhoods like mine that nothing will get done, and I think this could open up that despair and provide a path to hope. And I think that’s very important.”
For the Biden administration to provide that path, advocates warn, an announcement that fails in court will not be enough.
“So if you look at this from an operational standpoint, you know the government is going to need to enroll people quickly and soon to be able to accomplish this,” said Cris Ramón, senior immigration policy advisor at UnidosUS.
“We really have to sell this policy to the community, but we also need to be able to work with trusted community organizations and legal service providers to ensure that people can navigate this process and get the protections they want. to deserve.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
