Romney’s Immigration Stance Alienates Some Latino Mormons
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Mitt Romney spent last weekend in the Mormon hotbed of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he married wife Ann decades ago. But while he has so far enjoyed widespread support among his fellow Mormons in the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, a small but vocal faction of Latino Mormons wants to see Romney defeated.
The former Massachusetts governor’s controversial stance on immigration has alienated some Latino Mormons. In all, Latino Mormons make up 7 percent of Mormons in this country, so their potential influence on Romney’s chances of winning both the nomination and the presidency is limited.
In Nevada, for instance, a state with a large population of Latinos and Mormons, Romney cruised to a victory in the caucuses earlier this month, bolstered by the fact that 26 percent of caucus participants were Mormon, and 91 percent of them voted for him.
But the frustration that some Latino Mormons feel is illustrative of the polarizing nature of Romney’s immigration policy among Latinos nationwide, and the effect that could have on Romney’s chances of winning the White House this year. In the run-up to the Iowa caucuses in January, Romney said that as president, he would veto the DREAM Act, a bill that would provide a path to citizenship for some undocumented children of immigrants who attend college or serve in the military.
The fallout from Latinos was immediate.
When asked the next day whether he would back Romney, Juan Rodriguez, a Republican businessman in Des Moines, didn’t hesitate in his response.
“I wouldn’t vote for Romney because he doesn’t support immigration reform or the DREAM Act,” he said. “My business depends on Hispanics basically, and if there’s no immigration reform, we are going to be very affected. Not just me, but all the businesses that, like us, depend on the Latino community.”
The next week in New Hampshire, Esteban and Selma Lopez, a Latino couple in Goffstown who will vote for the first time in the general election this fall, shared a similar sentiment.
“I work in education and I know first-hand how important the DREAM Act is for Latino youth, for kids who are in this country without having taken part in the decision to come here,” Lopez said. “The short answer is I wouldn’t vote for Romney.”
Even the country’s largest Latino Republican group – Somos Republicans – said it would oppose Romney because of his immigration policies, deciding to back rival Newt Gingrich instead.
What makes the opposition to Romney of some Latino Mormons different is that their disapproval of his immigration stance stems not from business or professional reasons, but rather from religious ones.
Some Latino Mormons such as Honduran-born Antonella Cecilia Packard believe Romney has betrayed a basic Mormon belief of protecting immigrants, according to a story by the Associated Press’ Russell Contreras.
“A lot of us aren’t supporting him because of his stance against immigrants,” she told Contreras.
Latino Mormons, the AP story noted, cite immigration stories in the Book of Mormon and some recent statements by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints against various policies that target immigrants. In addition, as AP reported, they see Romney as a hypocrite because his own great-grandfather Miles fled to Mexico after an anti-polygamist law was passed in 1882.
If Latinos – Mormons or otherwise – go against Romney, that could pose a real threat to his chances of securing the GOP nomination and, later this fall, the White House. In Arizona, along with Michigan, the next state to vote in the primary on Feb. 28, Latinos make up 18 percent of the state’s eligible voters.
Nationwide, meanwhile, Latinos make up the nation’s fastest-growing voting bloc, with an estimated 12.2 million Latinos set to vote in the general election. While Romney’s immigration stance might have helped him with some conservatives, it might do him an equal – if not greater – amount of harm with Latinos across the country, even among those who share his faith.
Matthew Jaffe is covering the 2012 campaign for ABC News and Univision.
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So what.
These Illegals are in violation of the 12th article of faith.
“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
Posted by: uisignorant | February 20, 2012, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
My sentiments exactly! You can’t have it both ways. The church teaches to obey the law. This includes laws prohibiting illegal immegration.
Posted by: enrapturelj | February 20, 2012, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
So what. These Illegals are in violation of the 12th article of faith. Posted by: uisignorant | February 20, 2012, 3:20 pm.
So now all Latinos in the USA are illegals? LOL! You morons on the Right are SO going to get creamed in November, with supporters like Mr. Ignorant.
Posted by: Disgusted with gop | February 20, 2012, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
These Latino Mormons should try being an American first. We have laws in this country. If the Latinos don’t want to live here as Americans, then they should go home. Immigrants come here to be Americans, not bring all the baggage from their homeland with them.
Posted by: jonnie | February 20, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Why is it, that Latinos think the US should just fling open its doors to illegal immigrants……….just because Latinos want us to??????
That’s just stupid!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 20, 2012, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
…they… are upset with Romney’s position??
Please, do trust me on this one. A LOT of voters are overjoyed with it, and in addition, they are seething at the conduct of our President as he ignores his oath of office and refuses to enforce the Immigration Law in the interior of the United States. We all do understand, don’t we, that the President is the chief law enforcement officer in the United States?
Posted by: Joel Wischkaemper | February 20, 2012, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
But the frustration that some Latino Mormons feel is illustrative of the polarizing nature of Romney’s immigration policy among Latinos nationwide
——————————-
It is really important to understand that the Latinos in general do NOT support the illegal aliens. Further, 9% of the Latino Population are citizens, and a majority of them do not support Obama’s position. La Raza with a huge bankroll continues to make hay with the idea that NOT gaining the support of the Latino Voter will doom him to defeat. In fact.. La Raza has been playing that tune over, and over, and over again, but the illegal aliens are going home.
Posted by: Joel Wischkaemper | February 20, 2012, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
3 Latino’s justify an article against Romney? The church tells us to follow the laws of the land.
Romney believes in immigration, but he wants to stop illegal immigration.
Posted by: San Doninita | February 21, 2012, 1:56 am 1:56 am
Im a Combat veteran(OIF) and I support the dream act. Irs tax id numbers are afforded to illegals and they’re promise light at the end of the tunnel. they are labeled and blamed for ever social problem any group would have. irs tax id numbers, and sales tax with property tax subsitize our social security, if they attempt to change anything they face a 10 year bar. i new a few soldiers who’s wives were deported and slapped with a bar> and some chickenhawk stands on a box and proclaims what an american is? would they be so ” patriotic” intelling what an american is to that service member? thought so.
Posted by: Garrett | February 21, 2012, 3:55 am 3:55 am
damn knew*** – ther a bunch of spelling problems in that last post- but im tired and pissed off.
Posted by: Garrett | February 21, 2012, 3:57 am 3:57 am
“My sentiments exactly! You can’t have it both ways. The church teaches to obey the law. This includes laws prohibiting illegal immegration.” (sic)
Rosa Parks would have been put in prison by your church. Gandhi would be dying in jail if your church were the government.
Just because a law exists, doesn’t mean it is just and you should follow it. If Obama made it a law that you should murder all Christians, would your church feel justified in a murder spree?
No, YOUR church (whatever bizarre sect that may be) seems to think it’s just the laws that you agree with that are immoral to ignore.
Posted by: Dan | February 21, 2012, 11:58 am 11:58 am
It’s really sad to see there are members of the church who seem to be more Republican than latter day saints. I can’t help but to think that their true motives are racist when they say things like “Romney believes in immigration but wants to stop illegal immigration” as if immigrants wouldn’t opt for legal status if given the opportunity. If you’re a Mormon who feels illegals are breaking the 12th article of faith, you really ought to ask yourself if wether keeping the letter of the law is more important than following the spirit of the law. Hypocrites!
Posted by: Isaac | February 21, 2012, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Here is what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially says about immigrants:
“Members who emigrate to any country should comply with applicable laws…
To be considered for Church employment in any country, a person must meet all conditions of immigration and naturalization laws. The Church does not sponsor immigration through Church employment.”
Similarly, one of the most basic tenets of the Church states: “We believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
I’m not sure what part of “illegal immigration” confuses them, but those mentioned in the article certainly don’t speak for the Church.
Posted by: Jack B | February 21, 2012, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
My wife is an LDS immigrant, and so is my brother’s wife, and my sisters husband. All three came here legally, and are now citizens. We don’t need to let in more illegals, but we should make it easier for good people to enter legally, and I think most Mormons, in and outside of the US, share this sentiment.
Posted by: Joe | February 21, 2012, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Immigrants who come to American,without breaking any laws,that’s good. American is for the better with legal immigrants. Why,some thinks it is okay to break any laws,they what to.Our borders,needs to be close,so anyone who wants to bomb or what ever,have a hard time doing it. We all need to help keep American safe from those who hate us. There is a right way and a wrong way.And if one does not like the law,then change it but not break it.There are those who wait to come here to American,and they spend good amount of money as well,WHY should does that break the law and sneak in thu the back door,be given a hug and free welfare? They should not be.And even thu there are good hard workers,many are also bad one,in gangs and prison,costing lots of money,that we can’t afford. .
Posted by: Jerry Coley | February 25, 2012, 6:21 am 6:21 am