Pew: 42% of Latinos Fear Deportation for Themselves or Others They Know

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A Pew Research study released last week about Americans’ views on deportations found that more than four in 10 Latino adults (42%) “are worried that they or someone close to them might be deported.”

Still, when the analysis breaks down opinions demographically on who should be deported, where apprehensions should happen, and whether police should be allowed to check someone’s immigration status, Latinos support some deportation policies, though their views are less hard-line than other groups, particularly white respondents.

Here is what the Pew study shows, using national responses as the baseline.

In this chart, just 16% of Latinos said that all immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported, a 16-point gap from the national figure of 32%.

Those views are more in line with Black respondents (19%) and immigrants (16%). Conversely, 25% of Latinos said that none should be deported, compared to 16% nationally. Twenty-one percent of Black respondents agreed, along with 20% of immigrants and 14% of Asian respondents.

These Latino percentages align with respondents who are Democratic or lean Democratic. Just 10% of those respondents think all should be deported, and 28% said none should be deported.

This next image shows the breakdown of those who favor “some” deportations, with most groups strongly supporting the removal of individuals who have committed violent crimes.

For Latinos, that support is at 95%, two points lower than the national figure of 97% and two points higher than the Black respondent rate of 93%. For nonviolent crimes, 43% of Latinos favor deportation, nine points higher than Black respondents at 34%. For those who have arrived in the U.S. over the last four years, regardless of crime level, 41% of Latinos favor deportations, seven points higher than Black respondents at 34%. Both these groups follow a similar pattern to that of Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents.

Finally, on the question of law enforcement’s role in arresting individuals living in the country illegally, 48% of Latinos said those arrests can happen at protests or rallies, 38% said they can happen in homes, and 32% said they can happen in the workplace. These are lower percentages compared to most other groups.

The full analysis is here.

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What We’re Reading

César Chávez’s 1974 Letter: March 31 is César Chávez Day, and it’s always a good time to remind people that Chávez’s immigration positions were not so nativist. This 1974 letter is clear proof.

What I filed in 2021 for Latino Rebels.

Selena Forever: From NBC News, “Fans of the late Mexican American music icon Selena breathed a sigh of relief when the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced it had denied parole to her convicted killer, Yolanda Saldívar, on Thursday.”

Dallas Immigration March: From NBCDFW about a Dallas “Mega March” for immigrants, “Local and state politicians attended the demonstration in Dallas. Congressman Al Green, of Houston, told NBC 5 he was impressed by the turnout.”

About the Author

Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder and publisher of The Latino Newsletter.

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