Latinos divided over illegal immigration issues

Latinos are the nation's largest minority group (47 million people), comprising nearly 15% of the total U.S. population. About 38% of all Latinos are immigrants, and an estimated 19% are unauthorized immigrants. About four-in-five of the nation's estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants are of Hispanic origin.
The national concerns over illegal immigration has created new divisions among Latinos and heightened their concerns about discrimination against members of their ethnic group. A national survey by the Pew Hispanic Center has found that Latinos are divided over what to do with illegal immigrants. 53% said these immigrants should pay a fine but not be deported; 28% indicated they should not be punished and 13% said they should be deported.
The survey also found that Hispanics are also divided about the impact of illegal immigration on Hispanics already living in the U.S. About the same number said the impact has been positive (29%), negative (31%) or made no difference (30%). This mixed response sharply contrasts Latinos’ views on this subject in 2007. Back then, 50% of Latinos said the impact was positive and only 20% said it was negative.
In the current Pew survey 61% of Latinos said that discrimination against Hispanics is a "major problem," which up from 54% who said that in 2007. The most important factor leading to discrimination was cited as immigration status by 36% of survey respondents. In 2007 46% identified language skills as the biggest cause of discrimination against Hispanics.

Pictured: A national survey by the Pew Hispanic Center has found that Latinos are divided over what to do with illegal immigrants.
Photo courtesy of Pew Hispanic Center