Immigration Tops Jobs and Economy as Most Important Issue for Latinos

For Immiediate Release
July 27, 2011

Contact: 
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Poll conducted at NCLR Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C. 

Washington, D.C.—Immigration overwhelmingly trumps both the economy and education as the most important issue for Latinos, according to a recent poll of 547 supporters and attendees at the 2011 NCLR Annual Conference. Almost half (45 percent) of all respondents chose immigration as the top issue, as opposed to jobs and the economy (25 percent), education (21 percent), and health care (6 percent).

“Since the enactment of SB 1070 and other Arizona-style anti-Latino legislation, immigration has vaulted to the top of the Latino community’s key concerns for the first time in polling history,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “This should serve as a wake-up call to politicians on both sides of the aisle that inaction on this issue will be a huge factor in the upcoming elections.”

The straw poll, conducted in partnership with Lake Research Partners and Revolution Messaging via text message, also revealed attendees’ attitudes about President Barack Obama and provided insight into the 2012 elections. While nearly 80 percent of respondents said that they plan on voting for Obama in the upcoming election, only 29 percent “strongly approved” of the president’s job performance, whereas 44 percent “somewhat approved” and 27 percent “disapproved.”

“With the election just a little more than a year away, Conference participants are looking first and foremost to support and represent the Latino community,” added Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners.

Survey respondents indicated that they are more likely to vote in 2012 to support and represent Latinos (63 percent), rather than in support of either the Democratic (34 percent) or Republican party (3 percent). This should come as no surprise given the bipartisan lack of action on issues of importance to the Hispanic community.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Latinos. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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