19 SEPT 2023
NEW BATTLEGROUND SURVEY: Latino Voters in Pennsylvania Want Biden and Democrats to Take Decisive Action For Dreamers and Long-Settled Immigrants; Republican Extremism on Immigration Ostracizes Latino Voters
New Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Widely Support Administrative Action To Provide Legal Status and Work Authorization to Immigrants, including Dreamers, TPS holders, and Undocumented Workers
Read full poll results here.
HARRISBURG – As first reported by CBS, this week the Immigration Hub, Somos Votantes and UnidosUS Action released the results of a new poll conducted by BSP Research that surveyed Latino voters in 7 key battleground states–including Pennsylvania–and congressional districts in California, New York and Texas.
The poll reveals that an overwhelming majority of Latino voters in Pennsylvania – and across battleground states – favor President Biden taking swift administrative actions to provide legal pathways for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers and eligible Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. The results indicate that President Biden and Democrats have an opportunity to mobilize critical voters and increase enthusiasm among the Pennsylvania Latino electorate by publicly socializing their balanced approach to the nation’s immigration system in contrast with the GOP’s cruel agenda.
In recent months, the Biden-Harris administration has been on the receiving end of a wave of calls–from Congressional Black Caucus leaders, Latino Senators, governors from both sides of the aisle, civil rights groups, battleground mayors and business leaders–pushing it to use every tool at its disposal to provide more options for immigrants in the U.S. to access work permits and protection from deportation.
Results reveal that the majority of Latino voters in Pennsylvania reject a wide swath of anti-immigration policies more closely associated with Republicans and view the GOP as actively hostile to immigrant communities. Indeed, these results align with Senator John Fetterman’s triumph in the state, where he combined support for border security while leaning into pro-immigrant values and solutions. He famously declared: , “Immigration makes America, America,” and as Senator Fetterman and his wife Gisele Fetterman, a formerly undocumented immigrant herself, made clear, immigration is about family and America’s future.
Latino voters in Pennsylvania continue to reject extremist Republican stances on immigration – such as family separation, deporting Dreamers, and ending birthright citizenship. Latino voters support a balanced approach on immigration that involves orderly and humane border solutions and decisive action to support immigrants already living and working in the U.S.
Matt Barreto, BSP Research President and Co-Founder, who conducted the poll, stated, “Latino voters clearly reject Republican anti-immigrant policy. Latinos want to see Democrats deliver a balanced agenda on the issue of immigration, one that involves humane border solutions and secures legal pathways for long-settled immigrants like Dreamers and TPS holders to continue to live and work in the U.S. Motivating the Latino electorate will be key to electoral victories in 2024 and this poll shows a clear opportunity for candidates to activate battleground Latino voters in their favor by advancing popular immigration reforms.”
Key Poll Results in Pennsylvania Include:
Republicans have not made in-roads with battleground Latino voters on immigration. Survey results demonstrate that the majority of Latino voters (58%) in Pennsylvania do not support Republican policies and continue to view the GOP as hostile to immigrants and their contributions to the economy. A majority (65%) believe that Republicans are failing working families and dividing Americans by banning history books in schools and attacking reproductive rights and immigrant communities.
Candidates have an opportunity to gain critical votes and increase enthusiasm among Pennsylvania Latino voters by taking action for Dreamers and long-settled immigrant families in the U.S. and stressing a balanced approach to the nation’s immigration system. A strong majority (81%) of Latino voters in Pennsylvania continue to show overwhelming support for a balanced approach to the nation’s immigration system that includes humane and orderly border security and action to address Dreamers, long-settled immigrant families, and undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S.
A majority of Latino voters in Pennsylvania support President Biden taking administrative action to provide a path to legal status and work authorization to long-term immigrants, including Dreamers (73%), eligible TPS holders (85%) and undocumented workers (80%).
The Biden administration’s immigration policies are very popular (82%), offering Democrats a significant opportunity to demonstrate contrast with Republicans and win critical Latino voters in Pennsylvania. By articulating their position and contrasting against the GOP rhetoric and policies, President Biden and Democrats can increase Latino support significantly.
Beatriz Lopez, Deputy Director of the Immigration Hub added, “Taking administrative actions that offer a path forward for long-settled and newly arrived immigrants are not just popular among Latino voters, they are vital policies that will help unlock critical Latino votes in battleground states, like Arizona and Nevada, where victories are won at the margins and motivating the Latino electorate is key to victory. Congress will not act and Republican candidates and extremist legislators will continue to play to their base. With support on their side, President Biden and Democrats should meet the moment and deliver galvanizing immigration solutions that will allow immigrants and their communities to thrive.”
Methodology: On behalf of Immigration Hub, Somos Votantes, and UnidosUS Action, BSP Research conducted a survey of 2,000 Latino registered voters across battleground states and congressional districts to assess voter attitudes about immigration policies. The poll was run from July 14-23, 2023. Interviews were conducted in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and several battleground congressional districts in California and New York. The survey was conducted via live telephone and online, and available in English or Spanish, per respondent preference. Final data are weighted to reflect the Latino registered voter population across these states, and the overall poll has a total margin of error of + 2.2% and + 6.9% in the Pennsylvania sample.
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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.