Latino support for the Democratic and Republican Parties has shrunk nationwide, as they feel significantly discontented with the way both parties have handled immigration policy, according to a recent survey conducted by the non-partisan Pew Hispanic Center.

The 2006 National Survey of Latinos found that the percentage of Latinos who think the Republican Party has a superior position on immigration policy has dropped from 28 to 12 percent. But while Latino support has dropped for Republican methods of immigration reform, it has not driven them toward the Democrats, who also have seen a loss in their Latino base.

While 37 percent surveyed said the Democratic Party has the greater concern for Latinos, an equal percentage said they see no difference in the party's concern for them.

With declining Latino support for both parties, Democrats and Republicans in Utah are walking the line of immigration policy with caution.

"We have to be careful. If we make policy that drives them [undocumented workers] out of our state, our economy will suffer," said Rep. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City. "This also has to be balanced against people breaking the law. State elected officials don't have the resources to address this issue. The federal government will have to do so."

Some question whether states can successfully tackle a concern as controversial and encompassing as immigration legislation.

"I think we're going to have to wait and see what the federal government does on the issue before we can do anything," said Rep. M. Susan Lawrence, R-Salt Lake City.

But even while Latinos feel distanced from both political parties, they view themselves as more unified and politically powerful following the nationwide immigration marches. The majority of Latinos see the marches as the birth of a sustained social movement.

The recent debate over immigration upped the political interest among the greater part of Latinos, who say they would participate in similar demonstrations if they sprung up in their hometowns.

"We can't wait for politicians," said Leo Bravo, executive director of the Multicultural Center of Cache Valley. "We need to be telling politicians who we are and what we need. I let people know I will fight for my rights."

Whether those surveyed found pro-immigration marches to be an effective method or not, 75 percent said Latinos are becoming more unified to achieve common political goals in the U.S.

Although the majority of Latinos said they thought the marches improved Americans' view of undocumented immigrants, they did not see the overall debate as a positive influence.

With fifty-four percent of Latinos saying the tug o' war over immigration reform caused discrimination to increase, some Latinos began to question their safety in the U.S.

"People came into our center asking how they could get out of the United States, because they didn't have the resources to do so," said Joan Dixon, director of Centro Hispano in Provo. "They felt threatened and wanted to go home."

Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, said in many cases the immigration marches alienated segments of the population, despite their ability to display a strong voice for the Latino community.

"Marches sometimes have a negative effect," Bravo said. "People notice the population, so they know about the problem but they don't necessarily understand it, such as with immigration."

The survey was conducted by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Latino adults from June 5 to July 3, 2006, and has 3.8 percent margin of error.

Copyright Brigham Young University 7 Aug 2006