FOR RELEASE: October 29, 2003

Immigration Reform Supported by Latino Voters
AgJOBs bill currently in Congress gets thumbs up

Washington, DC- A new WCVI-MirRam Group survey of Latino voters shows that Latino voters across the country continue to support fair and inclusive treatment for undocumented immigrants, including support for guest worker programs and adjustment of status programs of various types, particularly the currently pending bipartisan AgJOBs bill sponsored by Senators Craig and Kennedy. "Latinos have a world-view that values the contribution of immigrant workers to America's economy as well as sympathizes with families that seek a better life here," said Antonio Gonzalez, WCVI president.

When asked to chose between various immigration policy options only 10% of Latino voters preferred halting illegal immigration, while 62% preferred measures to legalize undocumented immigrants with at least five years of residency and no criminal record, and 16% preferred expanded guest workers programs that temporarily hire immigrant labor in regions with labor shortages.

When asked specifically about the key provisions of the AgJOBs bill Latinos favored by more than two to one a program that brings in foreign farm workers to fill labor shortages in agriculture on a temporary basis, as well as an "earned legalization" program that provides adjustment of status to undocumented farm workers currently employed in U.S. farms that continue to work in agriculture for a certain amount of days over a several year period. "Latino voters support prudent measures like AgJOBs that balance the need for immigration reform, food security, and economic growth," continued Gonzalez.

"Latinos reject the premise that immigrants take jobs Americans want, abuse government services, or pose a security threat," said Gonzalez. For example, when asked if "illegal farm workers take jobs Americans want" Latino voters overwhelmingly responded no 75% to 13% yes. WCVI asked this question in California in 1999 -the number one state where farm workers are concentrated and found nearly identical attitudes.

Similarly, when asked if bringing in guest workers ("foreign farm workers") help or hurt American workers, Latino voters responded by more than six to one that guest workers in agriculture do not hurt American workers or have little or no effect. This response is also similar to WCVI's 1999 poll numbers.

"It may be that the bipartisan AgJOBs bill provides an opportunity for Washington, DC to break its immigration reform logjam. Latino voters will look kindly on politicians that are sensitive to immigrants and promote common sense reform. This also may be an opportunity for President Bush to regain some lost momentum with Latino voters. Our survey also showed that Hispanics felt by 54% to 37% that the president has not served them well," Gonzalez concluded.

WCVI, chartered in 1985, is a nonpartisan, non-profit, Latino-oriented research and policy think tank with offices in San Antonio and Los Angeles. More information on the survey can be obtained at www.wcvi.org. The MirRam Group of New York, a nationally recognized, Latino-owned market research firm conducted the survey for WCVI from September 24 through October 2nd. Latino registered voters in the five major Latino-concentration states: California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois were contacted. These five states represent 80% of all Latino registered voters. Bilingual pollsters gathered interviews from a sample of Spanish-surnamed voters. The margin of error at 95% confidence level on a sample of 1060 = +/-3%. The MirRam Group and WCVI have partnered to do survey research since 2002.

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