Pew: Illegal Immigration Backlash Worries, Divides Latinos

The Pew Hispanic Center released a report today finding that Latinos in the U.S. have renewed concerns over discrimination.  Read the report here.

Here are some highlights:

• About four-in-five of the nation’s estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants and Latinos are divided over what should be done about them:  53% say they should pay a fine but not be deported; 13% say they should be deported, and a larger minority (28%) say they should not be punished.
• Today, more than six-in-ten (61%) Latinos say that discrimination against Hispanics is a “major problem,” up from 54% who said that in 2007.
• Asked to state the most important factor leading to discrimination, a plurality of 36% now cites immigration status, up from a minority of 23% who said the same in 2007.
• Latinos are split over whether immigrant and native-born Latinos are working together to achieve common political goals; 45% say they were and 46% said they weren’t.

More about overall numbers of Latinos (47 million according to Pew), path to citizenship, birthright citizenship and Arizona-style immigration law at the link.