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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Latino influx shakes up Iowa's political picture MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA — Colorful piñatas hang from the ceiling, and Spanish-labeled goods fill the shelves of Angel Regalado's grocery in this rural town with a bulging immigrant community. Many of his customers lived in Mexico a decade ago. But the influx of Latinos to Marshalltown, with its large meatpacking plant, and elsewhere across Iowa has changed the political dynamics in what was one of the most homogeneous states in America. Now more than 115,000 Hispanics live in Iowa, comprising almost 4 percent of the state's population of 3 million. Though their community is tiny by Texas standards, their numbers increased 37 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs. The rapid growth of Iowa's Hispanic population, particularly the estimated 55,000 to 85,000 here illegally, has fueled a fierce debate in the state that will hold the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses on Jan. 3. Democratic converts Amid the polarizing politics of immigration, the issue is cutting both ways. Regalado said that for the first time since he came here 15 years ago, he will vote in the Democratic caucuses, possibly for Hillary Rodham Clinton. His reason: anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Republicans. "They don't care about good people," he said of the immigration critics. "Most people come here to work." A few blocks away, dress-shop owner Sylvia Padilla, a Mexican-American whose first language is Spanish, expressed similar sentiments. "Republicans no good for me," she said. In the GOP race, presidential contenders have been taking increasingly tough stands against illegal immigrants, favoring, among other things, deportations of convicted felons and hefty fines for employers. Last week, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who holds a narrow lead in the Iowa polls, attacked his two main rivals — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — for supporting sanctuary status for illegal immigrants and tuition breaks for their children. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Republican running on an anti-immigration message, recently began broadcasting a commercial suggesting that open-border policies have allowed terrorists to enter the country. His spot closes with a man in a hooded sweat shirt in a crowded mall. As the screen goes dark, an explosion is heard. Tough talk by GOP "People here are concerned about stopping the flow of illegal immigrants," said Barb Livingston, chairman of the Republican Party of Marshall County, which includes Marshalltown. The influx of immigrants has had an impact on schools, health care and taxes, she said. At the same time, Livingston conceded the issue was complicated and that voter anger was not necessarily directed at the Hispanic immigrants living in their communities. "They have compassion for people that are here and don't wish them ill," she said. Democrats are trying to woo Latino voters. Between 15,000 and 18,000 Hispanics are registered to vote in Iowa and are eligible to attend the state's primary caucuses. They could make up a pivotal bloc in the Democratic caucuses, which drew 124,000 voters in 2004. The major contenders are trying to reach out to them. Clinton has established a Hispanic Leadership Council, comprising 27 community leaders. Barack Obama has assigned a full-time staffer to engage Latino voters. Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and the only Hispanic presidential candidate, has distributed campaign materials in Spanish. All the Democratic contenders have embraced the broad notion of overhauling the nation's immigration laws. But they're steering away from discussions of details, because they could alienate Hispanic voters. And the issue's fine points could trip up a candidate. It did Clinton and Obama at recent debates when they appeared to equivocate about giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The partisan divide over immigration was underscored in a recent University of Iowa poll of likely caucus-goers The survey found that two-thirds of Republicans rated immigration as either the most important or a highly important issue. Only about one-third of Democrats ranked the issue so high. The poll, however, found Republicans far from united about how to deal with the issue. Though 30 percent of GOP voters supported the deportation of illegal immigrants, 51 percent preferred allowing them to become citizens if they met certain conditions, such as paying back taxes and learning English. About two-thirds of Democrats backed that option, known as "earned citizenship." War, health also issues David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa professor who conducted the survey, said there is less incentive for Democrats to talk about immigration because their core supporters are more interested in other issues such as the Iraq war and health care. Yvonne Dauterive, of Des Moines, who attended the Jefferson-Jackson Democratic dinner there, said there were bigger issues such as the economy. As for illegal immigrants, she said they should be given a chance to succeed so they'll become taxpaying citizens. But Joe Thill, a Democrat from Marshalltown, opposes what he sees as an influx of illegal immigrants. The 32-year-old electrician blames them for keeping local plant wages down. "We need to close the borders," Thill said. 'The people are scared' Such talk is having an effect, according to Ramon Lopez, a grocer in Marshalltown. His business is off this year, he said, because some families have returned to Mexico rather than face the anti-immigrant rhetoric and endure the possibility of raids by federal agents. "The people are scared," he said. Armando Villareal, administrator of the state's Division of Latino Affairs, said Iowa's Hispanics, about 40 percent of whom are first generation, are "getting their political footing" and are taking the attacks on immigration personally. He said federal roundups of illegal immigrants at plants around the state — including one last year at the meatpacking plant in Marshalltown — have created tensions. But white Iowa is gradually becoming accustomed to a different ethnic mix, said Villareal, who once worked as a political director for the United Farm Workers Union in San Antonio. "In Texas, (Hispanics) are deeply ingrained in the culture," he said. "Here they are newcomers."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 3.
#2. To: Dakmar (#0)
If she's looking to get welcomed, she better go back to from where she came.
Doesn't sound like they much wanted her either.
There are no replies to Comment # 3. End Trace Mode for Comment # 3.
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