13 MAY 2021

Hub Highlights: Polls Show Compelling Support for Citizenship, Opportunities for Democrats to Lean In

WASHINGTON, DC— New polls out this week show continued support among key constituency groups, including Latino voters, for immigration proposals by President Biden and Democrats. The latest survey of Latino voters, commissioned by the Immigration Hub and UnidosUS Action Fund, found that voters care deeply about immigration reform and that Democrats have a key opportunity to shore up and energize the Latino vote by delivering on immigration solutions. Data for Progress also released findings from their survey across ten battleground states. In each of the ten states, voters supported legislation that would grant a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and other essential workers-- this included a majority of Independents in all of the ten states and between roughly a third to a majority of Republicans. 

Key takeaways from EquisLabs and BSP Research on Latino voters:

  1. Latino voters strongly want policy solutions to fix the immigration system and despite anecdotal reporting, did not support President Trump’s immigration policies. Latinos are very supportive of Biden’s efforts to roll back Trump-era policies, reunify families and provide legalization to undocumented immigrants in the United States. There is also high support for the regional work being done by Vice President Kamala Harris to address the root causes of migration from Central America.  

  1. There is a crucial and necessary opportunity to communicate and clarify Democratic immigration proposals and action to gain Latino voter support. Based on the results, Latino voters believe Republicans are attempting to work with Democrats on immigration, but also believe that Democrats should go at it alone if Republicans attempt to obstruct. Democrats have the opportunity to win the debate and gain voter support by consistently and publicly informing Latino voters what Democrats are doing on immigration while defining Republicans and their efforts to obstruct. 

  1. Latinos are ready to credit President Biden and Democrats for finally addressing immigration, but there needs to be action. When the immigration policies are laid out, Biden and the Democrats have a great opportunity to shore up and energize Latino voters, by an 80-20 margin. Taking action on the issue will be rewarded, but the results make clear that there can be significant electoral consequences if no action is taken. 

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS TO FOLLOW:

President Biden to Meet with DACA Recipients, Underscoring Need for Citizenship for Dreamers. As a federal court decision on the future of DACA is imminent and the Senate deliberates on legislative solutions, the president is taking the opportunity to hear directly from Dreamers tomorrow. The administration continues to prioritize permanent solutions for DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential undocumented immigrants, a testament to President Biden’s commitment to working with Congress to finally pass legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship for immigrant communities.

The Essential Role of Immigrant Workers in America. Senator Alex Padilla chaired a hearing of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety to look at the stories of immigrant essential workers who not only helped keep our country moving amid the pandemic, but also continue their work to help fuel the country’s economic recovery. Rose Tilus, a nurse and Haitian immigrant currently living in the US with temporary protected status (TPS), was among the witnesses to testify before the committee. Meet Rose Tilus: Frontline Health Care Worker; Rhode Island Resident; Haitian TPS Holder.

Another family reunited over Mother’s Day Weekend. After being deported three years ago under Trump’s zero-tolerance family separation policy, Alejandra Juarez, wife of a decorated US Marine Corps veteran and mother of two young US citizen daughters, was reunited with her family. This news comes following the reunification of four families previously separated at the border by the Trump administration. SEE: FWD.us Launches New Ad Featuring Reunification of Military Family

AZ GOP Deploys Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Political Playbook. As Governor Doug Ducey has been trying to score political points by stoking fears about migrants at the border and deploying the National Guard (despite objections from local law enforcement), the NRSC last week launched an ad attacking Senator Mark Kelly on immigration. This divisive rhetoric by the Republican party reinforces the opportunity for Democrats to lean in on immigration and galvanize Latino voters who helped deliver victories for President Biden and Senator Kelly in the 2020 elections.

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.