Ruben Navarrette Jr.: The surge of Hispanics

“One of the most distressing aspects concerning the eight fired U.S. attorneys is what happened to David Iglesias of New Mexico, and what it tells us about how allegations of voter fraud have become a proxy for anxiety over illegal immigration.

First, try this: Whenever you hear the phrase “voter fraud,” substitute “surging Hispanic political power.”

Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson were so fearful about voter fraud “surging Hispanic political power” and how it might hurt Republicans and benefit Democrats in New Mexico, that they tried to pressure Iglesias to make prosecutions out of whole cloth. When he refused, state Republican Party officials complained to the White House, where others were also concerned with voter fraud “surging Hispanic political power”. After Republicans took a thumpin in the 2006 midterm elections, Iglesias name was suddenly added to a list at the Justice Department of the U.S. Attorneys slated to get the ax.”

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