Hispanics moving to Iowa

Houston Chronicle:

Colorful piñatas hang from the ceiling, and Spanish-labeled goods fill the shelves of Angel Regalado's grocery in this rural town with a bulging immigrant community.

Many of his customers lived in Mexico a decade ago. But the influx of Latinos to Marshalltown, with its large meatpacking plant, and elsewhere across Iowa has changed the political dynamics in what was one of the most homogeneous states in America.

Now more than 115,000 Hispanics live in Iowa, comprising almost 4 percent of the state's population of 3 million. Though their community is tiny by Texas standards, their numbers increased 37 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs.

The rapid growth of Iowa's Hispanic population, particularly the estimated 55,000 to 85,000 here illegally, has fueled a fierce debate in the state that will hold the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses on Jan. 3.

Amid the polarizing politics of immigration, the issue is cutting both ways.

Regalado said that for the first time since he came here 15 years ago, he will vote in the Democratic caucuses, possibly for Hillary Rodham Clinton. His reason: anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Republicans.

"They don't care about good people," he said of the immigration critics. "Most people come here to work."

A few blocks away, dress-shop owner Sylvia Padilla, a Mexican-American whose first language is Spanish, expressed similar sentiments. "Republicans no good for me," she said.

In the GOP race, presidential contenders have been taking increasingly tough stands against illegal immigrants, favoring, among other things, deportations of convicted felons and hefty fines for employers.

Last week, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who holds a narrow lead in the Iowa polls, attacked his two main rivals — former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — for supporting sanctuary status for illegal immigrants and tuition breaks for their children.

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"People here are concerned about stopping the flow of illegal immigrants," said Barb Livingston, chairman of the Republican Party of Marshall County, which includes Marshalltown.

The influx of immigrants has had an impact on schools, health care and taxes, she said.

At the same time, Livingston conceded the issue was complicated and that voter anger was not necessarily directed at the Hispanic immigrants living in their communities.

"They have compassion for people that are here and don't wish them ill," she said.

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All the Democratic contenders have embraced the broad notion of overhauling the nation's immigration laws. But they're steering away from discussions of details, because they could alienate Hispanic voters. And the issue's fine points could trip up a candidate. It did Clinton and Obama at recent debates when they appeared to equivocate about giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

The partisan divide over immigration was underscored in a recent University of Iowa poll of likely caucus-goers The survey found that two-thirds of Republicans rated immigration as either the most important or a highly important issue. Only about one-third of Democrats ranked the issue so high.

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David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa professor who conducted the survey, said there is less incentive for Democrats to talk about immigration because their core supporters are more interested in other issues such as the Iraq war and health care.

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Yes, Democrats are more interested in finding ways to lose the war and getting someone else to pay for their health care. When it comes to sacrifice for the good of the country count Democrats out. When it comes to enforcing the rule of law, they reserve that for any Republican caught in a corruption scandal. Democrats like William Jefferson, not so much. Hispanics in the country illegally, again, not so much.

The story does not disclose how the Hispanic voters interviewed became citizens. My guess is that some may have been given an amnesty by Reagan, which means they did not go through the immigration process. Those who do have less sympathy for those who came here illegally and they generally prefer Republicans.. That is another reason for Republicans to oppose future amnesty bills.