Polls: Immigration Reform Could Aid Gop

States back off from enacting immigration laws

( Also on POLITICO: PPP: Democrats lead generic Hill race ) All three districts, located in Californias Central Valley, have populations that are all at least 40 percent Latino. Valadaos district is 70 percent Latino. A majority of voters in each district also said they would have a more favorable view of Republicans if Congress passed comprehensive immigration reform. For example, 54 percent voters in Denhams district said they would find the GOP more favorable, while 19 percent they would find the party less favorable. Of the three Republicans, the lawmaker who saw the most potential electoral gain from immigration was Denham, according to the polls. Forty-three percent of voters in his district said they would be more likely to cast a ballot for him if he sponsored legislation with a pathway to citizenship, while 26 percent said it would make them less likely to do so. For 25 percent of voters, it would make no difference. ( PHOTOS: Immigration reform rally, Oct. 8 ) It just affirms that people want action, Lynn Tramonte, the deputy director of Americas Voice, said in an interview of the polling results. They want Congress to work together, not work against each other and immigration could potentially be a comeback issue for the two parties. The automated poll was conducted by the GOP firm Magellan Strategies for a coalition of pro-reform groups including the California affiliate of the PICO National Network, a grassroots advocacy organization, and Americas Voice. The data was provided first to POLITICO and will be released widely Thursday afternoon in conjunction with news conference in California with immigration advocates. The three polls were conducted Oct.
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At the same time, legislators created a provision in a law regarding abandoned property, allowing former tenants access to a property if they needed to retrieve documents about their immigration status. In Virginia, legislators did not opt for sweeping laws like Georgia, but did ban people who are in the country illegally from obtaining concealed weapons permits. Most noteworthy is that 24 states double the number from previous years passed resolutions asking the federal government to step in and take the reins on immigration, according to the report by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ann Morse, who helped prepare the report and heads the Immigrant Policy Project at the organization, says she hears this sentiment when she talks with state lawmakers from across the country. "They say, 'We can only do so much,'" she said. "They feel the government needs to come to the plate and finish the job.... Not acting on immigration reform is not a solution." Blanket enforcement laws sparked by Arizona are no longer popular with state lawmakers, especially because they can take millions of dollars to defend in court, said Gabriel J. Chin, professor of immigration law at the UC Davis School of Law. "It's pretty clear that, though it may satisfy a certain portion of the electorate, on the whole it's counterproductive politically to demonize immigrants, even undocumented immigrants," said Chin, who was a law professor at the University of Arizona when SB 1070 was passed. "So, I think the experiment in the SB 1070 type of involvement of immigration enforcement is over." Also, addressing immigration can be risky for some legislators.
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Immigration is the issue that can cut both ways

About 45 percent of Hispanics said illegal immigration by Hispanics living in the United States has improved the country. More than 47 percent of people who trace their families to Mexico - who are the majority of Hispanics in Texas - said illegal immigrants have a positive impact. The community disapproves of what they consider a broken immigration system. As Republicans watch their traditional Anglo base shrink, Republican candidates find themselves in a dilemma over whether to play the long or short game. To win in a 2014 primary, they must take a hard line on illegal immigration, yet to attract converts to their party in the long run, they must adopt a more nuanced position. Democrats are seizing on the Republican's uncomfortable position. Almost two-thirds of Hispanic voters back Democrats and the party is committed to boosting turnout. "Texas Republicans Dan Patrick and Jerry Patterson are fighting over which one can discriminate the most against immigrant children," Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said. "These Republicans like to call our children `illegals' and deny them educational opportunities, but then somehow expect we'll turn around and vote for them." On Wednesday, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer tried to drive a wedge between Republicans.
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Immigration Reform Group: Halting Deportations Would Hurt Effort

"In California, we passed a comprehensive package with bipartisan support," Alejo said. "They should be doing the same in Washington, D.C. as well. The momentum has taken a backseat with the government shutdown. " The forum was organized by the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project and the Santa Cruz County Democratic Party, including Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst as moderator. Alejo said California, with an estimated 2.5 million immigrants living in the state illegally, has taken the lead nationwide on reform measures with Gov. Jerry Brown recently signing a bill that allows driver's licenses for such immigrants. The forum's organizers said immigrants play a critical role in the local economy, particularly in the agriculture industry in the Pajaro Valley. Their work and dedication to the community should be protected, according to Doug Keegan of the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project. "There's been a spate of bills that send the message that California is no longer hostile to undocumented immigrants," Keegan said.
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Libya PM 'determined' to tackle illegal immigration

Those efforts are stalled for now, despite bipartisan support for the "gang of eight" immigration bill that passed the Senate in June . But the task force went on to write that advocates of reform shouldn't give up hope. "With immigration reform in sight, our nations leaders must put aside partisan, political considerations and work diligently to narrow their differences," the statement reads. "There are plenty of good ideas on the table from members of both parties. Now is not the time to give up on the legislative process, but rather to engage it with renewed vigor and determination." UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 11 -- Rebecca Tallent, director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, emailed to clarify the organization's stance on deportations. "The recent statement by BPCs Immigration Task Force statement does not, in any way, advocate for or against the current administrations deportation policies," she said. "Rather, the task force advocates for a full legislative process and against abandoning that process in favor of a short term, temporary fix. The task force believes that expansion of the DACA program addresses only one aspect of immigration reform and will undermine the overall legislative effort." Also on HuffPost: Loading Slideshow Reform Would Help Curb The Deficit Immigration reform would reduce the federal deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years, according to an April analysis by the American Action Forum, a conservative think tank.
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Chamber advocates for immigration reform

View gallery Migrants arrive at Hay Wharf in Valletta aboard a patrol boat of the Armed forces of Malta on October 12, 2013 a day after their boat sank (AFP Photo/Matthew Mirabelli) Tripoli (AFP) - Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Sunday he was "determined" to tackle illegal immigration, two days after a boat carrying migrants sank between the North African country and Malta, killing dozens. Thirty-one people died and more than 200 people were rescued after the boat capsized on Friday after setting out from the Libyan port of Zwara. "We are determined to deal with the problem," Zeidan said during a joint news conference with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Zeidan said he had asked for training and equipment from the European Union to prevent illegal immigrants leaving Libya for Europe. He added that he had also asked the EU for "access to their satellite system" to allow Libyan authorities to monitor their maritime and land borders. Zeidan said such access would be a "great help". After arriving on Sunday for a short visit to Tripoli, Muscat said he had discussed boosting security cooperation and combatting illegal immigration, and would relay suggestions to his European counterparts. Most of those who died in Friday's shipwreck were Syrian refugees fleeing the bloody conflict in their homeland. Some 180 migrants who were saved were taken on Sunday by Italian and Maltese officials to Porto Empedocle on Sicily. Some survivors said that they had been shot at by warring trafficking gangs as their boat left Libyan waters. Muscat told journalists there were conflicting accounts about the shooting, with some survivors accusing border guards of opening fire and others pointing the finger at militiamen. Zeidan said he was unable to confirm the incident, but said that authorities had opened an investigation.
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Immigration reform at center of Watsonville forum

A: Now that the economy has got some strength, I think it becomes a more pressing issue. The demographics dont change. Im going to get a day older today regardless of how the economy does, and everybody else in my worker age cohort is going to get a day older. All those baby boomers are going to retire, thats going to happen, so I would think as you move forward here the next 10 years, especially if the economy continues to show some strength, the worker issue becomes more pressing. More Minnesota businesses will confront those three choices: Do we automate, do we grow elsewhere, or do our elected leaders give us a reformed and functional immigration system? If inmigracion somebody gives you a big order and you cant fill it because you dont have enough people, youre not going to put up with that for too long. Q: What do you hear from Minnesota businesses? A: When Minnesota companies have difficulties filling their openings, that frustration makes them more sensitive to some of the other challenges of doing business in Minnesota. Then they start scratching their heads and saying, Why am I paying some of the higher taxes in the country? It sort of brings to the surface some of the other warts on our states economic environment. That workforce is really our big, big, big selling point.
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