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Racism Cause for Worry with Immigrants
WASHINGTON D.C. — Legal immigrants are worried about a rising tide of racism in the United States and said the first sign is a proposed law in Congress that would make undocumented aliens criminals and have them deported.
The same bill seeks to build a wall on the Mexican border and prosecute religious groups working to help illegal immigrants.
A survey of 800 legal immigrants from 43 countries in 47 states showed a majority is worried about the substance of the debate in Congress and the media. Two-thirds believe an anti-immigrant sentiment is growing in the country and most believe this sentiment is fueled by racism against immigrants from Latin America and Asia.
"The poll results remind me of similar findings in California in 1994 when immigrants from Latin America complained about racism, discrimination and disrespect against them and their families because of the xenophobic message of the supporters of Proposition 187," says pollster Sergio Bendixen.
The poll was conducted in nine different languages, including Mandarin, Hindi, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog.
Legal immigrants feel the racism is affecting their families negatively.
“The survey results are striking and reinforce the call for responsible immigration reform worthy of a nation built by immigrants,” said Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a co-sponsor of the poll.
There are about 26 million legal immigrants in the country, according to a statement released by the New America Media, which commissioned the survey.
The results of the poll were published on March 27 by the top ethnic media dailies in a coordinated effort to ensure the results form part of the national debate on immigration reform.
"The need for fair and comprehensive immigration reform is too important for the debate in Washington to be conducted based on misinformation and prejudices," said Dan Restrepo, senior policy advisor at the Center for American Progress, a co-sponsor of the poll. "It is essential that policymakers understand the true views of our immigrant communities and this poll is a leap forward in that regard."
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=d57470e190e4a92e5f84fc1146e622cc
A survey of 800 legal immigrants from 43 countries in 47 states showed a majority is worried about the substance of the debate in Congress and the media. Two-thirds believe an anti-immigrant sentiment is growing in the country and most believe this sentiment is fueled by racism against immigrants from Latin America and Asia.
"The poll results remind me of similar findings in California in 1994 when immigrants from Latin America complained about racism, discrimination and disrespect against them and their families because of the xenophobic message of the supporters of Proposition 187," says pollster Sergio Bendixen.
The poll was conducted in nine different languages, including Mandarin, Hindi, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog.
Legal immigrants feel the racism is affecting their families negatively.
“The survey results are striking and reinforce the call for responsible immigration reform worthy of a nation built by immigrants,” said Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a co-sponsor of the poll.
There are about 26 million legal immigrants in the country, according to a statement released by the New America Media, which commissioned the survey.
The results of the poll were published on March 27 by the top ethnic media dailies in a coordinated effort to ensure the results form part of the national debate on immigration reform.
"The need for fair and comprehensive immigration reform is too important for the debate in Washington to be conducted based on misinformation and prejudices," said Dan Restrepo, senior policy advisor at the Center for American Progress, a co-sponsor of the poll. "It is essential that policymakers understand the true views of our immigrant communities and this poll is a leap forward in that regard."
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=d57470e190e4a92e5f84fc1146e622cc
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