December 16, 2005
Immigration May Again Drive a Wedge Between GOP, Latinos
California Republicans lost much ground with the key voting bloc after Proposition 187. But some say border security must be today's focus.
By Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — In the renewed controversy over illegal immigration, old choices are resurfacing for California Republicans.
Responding to rising demands from local and national conservative activists, GOP House members from the state are enlisting behind a tough measure to crack down on illegal immigrants that the chamber began debating Thursday.
But this legislation could present the party with the same risky political equation it faced in 1994, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, promoted Proposition 187 to bar illegal immigrants from most public services in California, including schooling. Though support for the proposition helped Wilson win reelection, most analysts agree that a backlash against it helped tilt the state toward the Democrats by increasing turnout among Latinos — and souring those voters on GOP candidates.
Now, state Republicans find themselves on a similar tightrope as they try to satisfy activists urging tougher measures against illegal immigrants without again alienating Latino voters, who have only recently shown signs of reconsidering the GOP.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-calimmig16dec16,1,5152348.story?coll=la-headlines-nation