Obama’s Record-High Deportations Draw Hispanic Scorn
EmailThe record-setting deportation of illegal immigrants under President Obama has drawn scorn from Hispanic Americans, despite recent administration efforts to temper the policy, according to a new Pew Hispanic Center study.
Fifty-nine percent of Latinos said they disapprove of the president’s approach to removing illegal immigrants, more than double the number who said they approved in Pew’s nationwide survey.
Among Latino registered voters, the sentiment was nearly as strong, with 52 percent disapproving of the Obama administration’s handling of deportations.
Since 2009, the annual average number of deportations has approached 400,000, according to the Department of Homeland Security. That’s double the annual average during President George W. Bush’s first term and 30 percent higher than the average when he left office.
Meanwhile, the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States has hit a decade low because of the down economy and stepped-up enforcement efforts.
The dynamic has drawn protests from immigrant rights advocates and some Obama supporters, particularly Hispanics, who make up 80 percent of the nation’s illegal immigrant population and 97 percent of deportees last year. Hispanics are also a key constituency for Obama’s re-election campaign.
The Pew study found ample confusion among Latinos about the administration’s policy both in terms of the increase in deportations since Obama took office and the recent implementation of greater prosecutorial discretion in non-criminal cases.
Forty-one percent of Latinos say they’re aware of the heightened deportations, 36 percent thought the numbers have been comparable to those under Bush, and 10 percent said they thought deportations had declined.
Pew did not explicitly measure attitudes toward Obama’s more “humane” approach to deportations announced in August, but experts say the relatively high disapproval of administration policy suggests that change is still not widely known.
Under the new approach, the Department of Homeland Security will review all 300,000 pending deportation cases and grant reprieves on a case-by-case basis to individuals who do not have criminal convictions. Only about 15,000 cases have been reviewed so far, officials say.
Meanwhile, the administration has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawyers to help filter out nonpriority deportation cases from flooding the already-congested immigration court system. Removal orders involving veterans, parents of U.S. citizen children, students and the elderly are increasingly being dropped.
Administration officials say the revised approach should alleviate concerns within the Hispanic community about Obama’s deportation policy and caution it will take time to implement. They also say leniency can only go so far under existing law.
“President Obama has been forceful about the need to fix the broken immigration system comprehensively so that it meets America’s economic and security needs, but he cannot change the laws by himself,” White House spokesman Luis Miranda said.
“This Administration has made dramatic improvements by developing clear immigration enforcement priorities for the first time ever that include focusing on those with criminal records, a smarter approach from a law enforcement perspective that also better reflects our nation’s values.”
But whether Hispanic Americans will see and understand Obama’s policy changes – and approve – remains to be seen, Pew Hispanic Center associate director Mark Hugo Lopez said.
“We will continue to publish reports about how many unauthorized immigrants are in this country and likely will be asking in our next survey about the issue of immigration generally,” he said.
“We didn’t get into the prosecutorial discretion issue in this poll, we just asked more generally about how the Obama administration is handling deportations, and 59 percent of Latinos said they disapprove.”
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Posted by: Steve | December 28, 2011, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
President Obama does the Correct thing. Ha, ha, ha!! Republicans might vote for the President now. NOT!!! Once the Hispanics realize that being deported or having the HATERS coming at you with their ‘weapons’, I think they’ll still give the President their votes. I just wonder if they’ve been listening to all the hatred that spews from the Right regarding THEM!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | December 28, 2011, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
1) illegal is just that so the policy is being inforced correctly. 2) Why do we not have a stronger policy of prosecuting the employers playing the system? Republicans love to attack illegal immigrants right up until they want their grass mowed for less than minimum wage.
Posted by: dan | December 28, 2011, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
gop doesnt hate anyone.you are either legal or illegal. the illegals cost all u.s. citizens dearly. skin color and sexual orientation are the concerns of liberals. right wingers could care less as long as you are here legally, pay you bills and dont become a burden to society, the rest is liberal spin as they have done nothing but help keep minorities dependent on aid which they think means votes.
the only color the gop cares about is green.
Posted by: catman | December 28, 2011, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
GOP colors = green AND white. Period.
Posted by: MsT-Mac | December 28, 2011, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Where are the whining right wing nuts?
They must be cowering in disbelief and shame because this news contradicts faux news.
Just think how many more accomplishments can be had if the GOP would support the country instead of being obstructionists.
But that statement goes to both parties – country first, party second.
Posted by: raggmopp | December 28, 2011, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
“Obama’s Record-High Deportations Draw Hispanic Scorn” – ABC News
Gee that’s kind of insulting to Hispanics isn’t it Mr. Dwyer?
What you are implying is that Hispanics are mad that Obama is enforcing the Law.
That can’t be true of Hispanics who are Americans.
Maybe you meant to say President Obama is drawing scorn from illegal invaders from Mexico.
Posted by: Noz | December 28, 2011, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
What’s so hard to understand about the word illegal. If you are so self-assuredly correct on this issue, you should easily be able to muster the votes to change the law. Since that hasn’t happened, you must not be correct on this issue. This is more about what would please you, personally, than about the law, isn’t it?
Posted by: Jim | December 28, 2011, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
they are here illegally, what do you expect our government to do. President Obama believes in paths to citizenship for LEGAL immigrants. If hispanics have a problem with this then oh well….. Some of those illegal immigrants are actually dangerously criminal. Several have been involved in drunk driving accidents in my own city where innocent Americans are getting hurt. Only those illegal immigrants who have fallen within the American Constitional loophole that grants citizenship to people who are born here should be considered for stay here. Of course they should pay hefty fines, special taxes and tracked closely.
Posted by: TV | December 28, 2011, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
.you are either legal or illegal.
Posted by: catman | December 28, 2011, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
No, a person isn’t either legal or illegal. That is an extremely stupid way of putting it and viewing it. You can engage in illegal acts. You can remain in a country illegally, but you yourself do not become illegal. A person is not either legal or illegal.
Here’s the bottom line: The Obama administration has presided over a record number of deportations of immigrants here illegally, and 59% of Latinos disapprove. But Obama is still favored over all potential GOP nominees, by Latinos, young people, adults polled and likely voters.
Posted by: Kaitlin | December 28, 2011, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
It’s comical to read the spin ABC puts on the polling. Everywhere else the headlines are things like Obama would trounce Romney among Latino voters. The GOP has made no hoped-for gains and in fact has lost ground with a fast-growing population of voters.
Posted by: Luz | December 28, 2011, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
Yeah, Political Punch is really kind of lame lately. I mean, what kind of journalist would tease this headline from the data?
The point is that Obama is trying to follow the law. Latinos understand that the GOP has a very strong anti-immigration angle these days, and as I live in a large Latino community…. I know they can tell the difference between the two parties on the issue. They say it all the time: Better Obama than one of the other guys. And the data confirms this.
I mean, the GOP is rallying around Sheriff Joe, who has presided over catastrophic increases in violent crime, regular allegations of racism, an unpoliced sex crime epidemic, deaths of detainees, etc. I mean, this might be one case…. but it is a huge difference between Obama and the GOP. The GOP says that Sheriff Joe can drop the ball (and even participate in) other crimes in his district, as long as he will discriminate against Latinos…. Obama says, we are still going to deport undocumented people, you cannot target one ethnic group for arrest… especially when there are serious crimes (like molestation) going on right under your nose.
Sometimes I feel like ABC is trying pass itself off as a kinder, gentler version of Fox News.
Posted by: blip | December 29, 2011, 9:17 am 9:17 am
“Sometimes I feel like ABC is trying pass itself off as a kinder, gentler version of Fox News.” – Blip
Well if they did that they would increase there market share and make more money.
Posted by: Noz | December 29, 2011, 10:30 am 10:30 am
“Well if they did that they would increase there market share and make more money.”
I think to get the really juicy stories, though, you have to wiretap public officials and hack into dead people’s voicemail. I doubt ABC is willing to go the criminal route. But, Noz, anything for money, right?
I am glad I am not a Republican anymore.
Posted by: blip | December 29, 2011, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
“But, Noz, anything for money, right?” – Blip
Apparently not Blip because if ABC, which btw is not a .org, wanted to make more money they’d go more conservative. It’s odd for a company to put political ideology ahead of making a healthy profit but that’s where we are with the Media these days.
Posted by: Noz | December 30, 2011, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
Journalism used to be valuable because it provided reliable information that people could use to make informed choices in their daily lives.
According to you, journalism is simply about create a product that can pander to the emotions of consumers.
Maybe this is why journalism is failing. Too much pandering to people’s biases, and not enough facts. I mean, look at the facts, even Fox is losing viewers. For a while, they were winning the race to the bottom…. but once people stop believing that journalism can provide useful information… they will get their titillation and sleaze from the internet for free.
Posted by: blip | December 30, 2011, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
You are completely right Blip.
“Journalism used to be valuable because it provided reliable information” – Blip
Posted by: Noz | December 30, 2011, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
Fifty nine percent disapprove…WOW…imagine that.
Posted by: deb | January 2, 2012, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Illegals out. Good job.
Posted by: Ems9 | January 2, 2012, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
Deporting Cost Too Much? Bill Mexico, its THEIR citizens we are deporting, they should foot the bill.
WHEN Does The GOVERNMENT WAKE UP and Re-Evaluate “Major” crime deserving deportation??
Americans serve Jail time and/or Penalized for : DUI, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/ASSAULT, CHILD ENDANGERMENT, BREAKING & ENTERING etc)
Yet Illegals Arent deported for such, instead, they get “Amnesty”..OUTRAGEOUS!
My Life has been VIOLENTLY threatened by an Illegal, Ive Called the Police, Got police Records, Went to Court, and Given ICE his Work & Home Address, and Contacted the President…Guess what? WE are STILL at His mercy and Living in Danger and Fear as He walks freely, mocking and intimidating and manipulating!
Why? Because of the Cost? Or because his Crime isnt “Major” enough!!
When he follows through and murders, will that be enough to deport? How about if one of my kids is the next “HAVE YOU SEEN ME” children? Will that be enough?
When its “Major”, Its TOO LATE!!
Posted by: Kali and Shawn | January 24, 2012, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
I’m so proud of Obama for do this
Posted by: No Way Jose | February 29, 2012, 3:42 am 3:42 am
What the president personally walked every Mexican illegal alien across the border?
Posted by: Sue | May 12, 2012, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm