Immigration Surges as a Top Priority for Texas Latinos in 2024 Election

Hispanic voters in Texas now see immigration and border security as one of their top priorities in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, a major change from previous years, according to a new poll. Immigration and the border jumped to one of the top five concerns for Hispanic voters in Texas, according to a poll released Tuesday by UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota that was conducted by BSP Research. The changing sentiments from Latinos voters who are on the frontline of the immigration debate showcase how the issue will likely play a critical role in the 2024 presidential election. While Republicans are making border security and the influx of migrants a key issue in the upcoming election, the polling data shows that Latinos voters’ view on the immigration is more complicated, with a majority supporting Democratic ideals like a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people who have lived in the U.S. for years. Latinos' views on immigration and economics show why Republicans and Democrats both see a battleground ahead on trying to win over a crucial and growing voting bloc. Inflation came out as the number one concern among Latino voters in Texas, at 52%. The next top concerns are: jobs and the economy at 43%; health care at 33%; crime and gun violence at 29%; and immigration and the border at 25%. Immigration was not among the top concerns in a similar UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota survey published last year ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Immigration reform and border security were each at 13% for Hispanic voters. As seen from an aerial view a U.S. Border Patrol agent supervises as immigrants walk into the United States after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico on September 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. As seen from an aerial view a U.S. Border Patrol agent supervises as immigrants walk into the United States after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico on September 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas.John Moore/Getty Images Read More 5 Political Trends that Will Determine the 2024 Election How Immigration Frames the 2024 Texas Senate Race Could Texas Go Blue in 2024? DNC Chair Jaime Harrison Says Latino and Black Men Won’t be ‘Taken for Granted’ in 2024 (Exclusive) George Soros’ Open Society Nixes $67 Million Proposal from National Latino Groups Leaving 2024 Funding Uncertain (Exclusive) Kamala Harris Speeches to Major Latino and Black Groups Preview Campaign Role “Immigration has traditionally not ranked among the top five, and the times when it has risen on this schedule on this scale has tended to coincide with times when the immigration debate turns increasingly toxic,” Clarissa Martinez De Castro, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS. Martinez De Castro also added that many of the Latino voters surveyed reside in cities that are receiving large amounts of migrants, which is also a factor in voter sentiments. The Biden administration has seen record levels of migrants encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border. In October, 240,988 migrants were encountered at the border. President Joe Biden has been criticized by both Republicans and some Democrats for his handling of the border, especially as buses with migrants being sent to cities like Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York City from border cities. When asked what the most important immigration issues that lawmakers should address, 49% of Latino voters in Texas said that they would like to see a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children. Another 49% said that there should also be a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have resided in the U.S. for a long time. Only 19% of respondents said they would like to see the border wall finished. Martinez De Castro warned both Democrats and Republicans have a lot of outreach to do to the Latinos, as a majority of voters say they don’t believe either party cares about the community. The survey found a combined 51% of Hispanic Texas voters said that Democrats don’t care too much or are hostile to the Latino community. Forty-nine percent said that Democrats care for the Latino community. When asked whether Republicans care a great deal about the Latino community, a combined 72% said they don’t care too much or are hostile. Only 28% said the GOP cares a great deal for the community. Latino voters are also among the fastest growing population in the United States, and are about half of Texas’ population. The survey found that 25% of Latinos in Texas will be voting in their first presidential election in 2024. “When you have about one in five who are new from an electorate that is poised to be the difference maker, I would heed that warning call,” Martinez De Castro said. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.