I said it in forums other than here; the GOP stance on immigration was going to hurt or doom their party for many years. I expected it to take a generation or so to catch up with them but it appears that it has already started. In the 2006, midterm elections the Latino vote went heavily for Democrats while being just about evenly split in the 2004 elections. As the fastest growing group in the United States the Latino vote must be considered when policy issues are on the table. Legislation such as HR4437 that makes everyone who assists any undocumented person or person who overstayed their visa a felon (which would include family, clergy, lawyers) is so xenophobic (as were many of the GOP campaigns this year) and clearly devastating to mixed-status families that there will most certainly be a backlash. When I went to the immigration marches the main focus was on advocating for a sensible immigration bill and stopping such HR4437. With the takeover of the House by Democrats I predict that HR4437 is now dead. It looks America, with the help of the Latino vote, is moving towards a sensible immigration strategy. I doubt it will be perfect but it will certainly be better than what was proposed in the House.
