Latino voters are "suddenly the 'it' demographic in U.S. politics," and, seemingly overnight, support for immigration reform is also en vogue: A recent Bloomberg headline trumpeted the "The Political Inevitability of Immigration Reform." Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner is "confident" that Washington will finally find "common ground" on a "comprehensive approach." Even FOX News has "evolved" on the immigration issue.
However, as many delighted immigrant advocates dance in the proverbial streets, I'm scratching my head. Yes, it is true that the multicultural, minority masses -- the sought-after Latino voting bloc among them -- have spoken, simultaneously granting Obama another four years in office while thrusting the GOP into an identity crisis. But with the ink barely dry on the 2012 ballots, it is puzzling that both parties would suddenly look to immigration as a way to lock in Latino support for 2016. Not only is immigration not completely synonymous with the Latino vote (not all Latinos are immigrants, not all immigrants are Latinos, and neither group blindly casts their ballot based solely on reform), but there's also the fact that some immigration reform has already happened -- just not in the way that Latinos or community advocates would have hoped.
The truth is that Republicans and Democrats have managed to work together on an immigration reform that divides families and destroys lives -- and Latino voters were acutely aware of this on November 6. While 7-in-10 Latinos supported Obama, I know for a fact that some of those votes, mine included, were reluctantly cast.
(Lest revealing my vote pigeonhole me as a party-line-towing Democrat, I will share that I've heartily voted for moderate Republicans in the past.) READ MORE
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