Immigration reformers see Obama win, Hispanic
turnout as 'game-changer'
“An outpouring of support from Hispanic voters
helped to usher President Obama to a resounding
reelection win Tuesday, and immigration reformers
say those dynamics have set the stage for a bipartisan
reform deal next year.”
LATINO VOTER TURNOUT 2000-2012:
INCREASING LATINO PARTICIPATION THROUGH TURNOUT AND REGISTRATION
11,269,803
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Actual Latino Votes Cast according to United States
Census Bureau Current Population Survey
Over 11 million
Latino voters
participated in
2012 –
constituting
10% of the U.S.
electorate
ASIAN AMERICAN POLITICAL POWER IS GROWING TOO
Asian American
voters constituted
3% of the electorate
– but are the fastest
growing ethnic
group from 2000 to
2010.
LATINO POLITICAL POWER
•
A GROWING CONSTITUENCY: 1.3 million more Latinos voted in 2012
than in 2008.
•
Latino voters supported our endorsed union candidates by more the
70%.
•
Latino voters voted to defeat California’s Prop 32 in greater numbers
than did general union members.
•
Building partnerships with these emerging communities is a critical part
of our growth strategy & helps build worker power.
AFL-CIO
2012: HISPANICS AS SHARE OF TOTAL POPULATION
< 10.0%
10.0% - 19.9%
20.0% - 29.9%
30.0% - 39.9%
> 40%
AFL-CIO
2016: HISPANICS AS SHARE OF TOTAL POPULATION
< 10.0%
10.0% - 19.9%
20.0% - 29.9%
30.0% - 39.9%
> 40%
LABOR MOVEMENT’S POLICY FRAMEWORK
1. Roadmap to Citizenship
2. Independent commission to
assess labor market shortages
3. Effective work authorization
mechanism to hold employers
accountable
4. Rational operational control of the
border
5. Improvement, not expansion, of
temporary worker programs
More than three in five union members are in favor of a
comprehensive immigration reform proposal that includes a
roadmap to citizenship and emphasizes workers’ rights.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
62
+39
23
16
37
15
Favor
Oppose
Not sure/DK
Proposal Text
Under this proposal, the federal government would establish a roadmap to citizenship for immigrants currently living and working in
the U.S. Employers who continue to violate the law and hire unauthorized workers would be punished and face strict fines and
penalties. In the future, employers would be able to bring in foreign workers only when the economy is strong enough so that there
are real shortages of workers, and those workers would have the same rights as all other workers.
Now I’m going to read you a description of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal. Please tell me whether you
FAVOR or OPPOSE this proposal. [READ PROPOSAL] Do you favor or oppose this comprehensive immigration reform
proposal or are you not sure?
Most Union Members Support Comprehensive
Immigration Reform
Not
sure/DK
Comprehensive Immigration Reform- Initial ballot
Favor
Oppose
Total
Building Trades
Government
15
23
21
31
22
37
32
16
37
Manufacturing
17
8
39
Other
18
9
42
Now I’m going to read you a description of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal. Please tell me whether you
FAVOR or OPPOSE this proposal. [READ PROPOSAL] Do you favor or oppose this comprehensive immigration reform
proposal or are you not sure?
62
51
16
17
64
67
62
14
15
19
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE, ORGANIZE &
MOBILIZE
Formulating comprehensive plan detailing strategies & goals:
 Research, Message and Targeting
 Union Outreach and Coalition Building
 Education and Training
 Mobilization
 Resources
Launching a multi-city event tour:
 Labor leaders & workers lead events that demonstrate CIR is a priority to the
movement
 Events build support for CIR; provide education & outreach opportunity
 Include outreach to Latino/ethnic communities & media
Conversations with International Unions
NEXT STEPS IN BOSTON
 Sample resolution supporting comprehensive
immigration reform
 Strategic partnership with Immigrant Worker Center
Collaborative
 Immigrants: A Common Wealth Event
 April 17th, 6 – 8 PM, State Archives, UMass
Boston in Dorchester
 May 1st: Mobilizing for May Day
QUESTIONS?