Kathryn Jean Lopez on Hispanics & Republicans on National Review Online. Desperately Seeking Hispanics

“Republicans are understandably and laudably concerned about expanding their electoral base to include more Hispanics. But it’s insulting to assume that Hispanics will vote for you, as some leading Republicans seem to, only if you turn a blind-eye toward those who have entered the country illegally via “economy class” (that’s how making it across our open southern border was described in the movie Spanglish). As one GOP Hill staffer puts it, “it borders on racism to think that Hispanics automatically support amnesty for illegal immigrants over security at our borders.”

Indeed, Steve Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, notes that: “polls show that for actual Hispanic voters, immigration ranks as a relatively low priority. So it’s not clear this is a way to win Hispanic voters.” He adds that “for actual Hispanic voters who might vote Republican, they tend to be more law-and-order types, so again it’s not clear that this is a winner politically.” “Law-and-order types” would generally nod in sincere agreement when President Bush talks about the “American Dream” being open to folks who “work hard and play by the rules.” They want rules to be the nation’s priority before we announce an official amnesty (codifying out current general non-enforcement policy) for those who have already broken said rules.”

• CIS Report Attempts to Erase 100 Years of Data on Immigrants and Crime
• The Utah Forensics Team is hosting a debate Thursday centered around the issue of immigration reform in Utah. – The event, titled “Broken Borders: Debating the State of Immigration,” will feature Tony Yapias, the former director of the Utah State Office of Hispanic Affairs; Utah Reps. Mike Noel and Chris Herrod; and Dee Rowland, a government liaison for the Utah Catholic Diocese
• From a group calling themselves Electronic Civil Disobedience comes the Transborder Immigrant Tool, a simple mobile application intended to aid and abet border-crossers from Mexico to the United States by mapping the safest routes to take. – This GPS app is built to work on the cheapest cell phones available.
• In the 8 states poised to gain congressional seats, Latino voter registration grew 45% and Latino voter turnout expanded 50% between 2000 and 2008. – In the 11 states poised to lose seats, Latino voter registration grew 50% and Latino voter turnout expanded 62% between 2000 and 2008.
• The Center for American Progress applauds Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s push to move forward with the congressional debate.
• Statement on Sec. Napolitano’s First Speech on Immigration Reform
• State elections official fired after poking fun at Spanish-speaking voters – Texas
• Business groups in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez said Wednesday they are calling for United Nations peacekeepers to quell the drug-related violence that has given their city one of the highest homicide rates in the world.
• PMDG Launches Regional Mexico Marketing Initiative
• Mexico, U.S. Blame Each Other After Border Crackdown Fails
• Greater civic engagement will make Latinos a political force – This year’s elections in key Massachusetts cities have marked some important milestones for Latinos.
• U.S. officials wrong in celebrating fall of the Berlin Wall as work continues on our own border wall
• Republican Party courting Latinos in Nevada (and elsewhere)
• The New Latino Vote Under Obama – A Rift Between 2008 Latino Obama Supporters and the Republican Party.
• NY village gets new voting system to aid Hispanics – A federal judge imposed an unusual election system on a suburban village Friday
• Native American corporations, particularly an array of Alaska Native Corporations, have become major defense and homeland security contractors – responsible for a wide range of national security operations, including electronic surveillance on the border, running immigrant detention centers, and supplying security and other services in U.S. overseas wars and energy exploitation.
• Low Latino voter turnout in NJ and VA elections reveal a return to the old ways
• Hispanic Voter Turnout Remains Low – voter turnout rate of just 21% in Yakima, WA
• Native Americans Profit from Abusive Immigrant Detention and Billions of Dollars in National Security Contracts
• A soldier every 3 feet on the US/Mexico border = 6,930,880 soldiers – Immigration Anecdotes