LETTER TO EDITOR: Don't appease illegality

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Luis R. Guevara's advice to Republicans, whom he says can attract more Hispanic voters by supporting comprehensive immigration reform, couldn't be more wrong ("GOP needs new approach for Hispanic vote," Nation, Oct. 28). He would know this if he had bothered to do his homework. Legal Hispanic immigrants do not uniformly support amnesty or special treatment for illegal immigrants.

A 2005 survey of 1,000 likely Hispanic voters conducted by a Democratic advocacy group found that 53 percent of Hispanics said they would support a Democratic candidate "who says the current level of immigration threatens American workers and our national security" ("Poll finds Hispanics split on illegals, immigration," Opinion, Aug. 17, 2005).

In April 2007, McLaughlin & Associates conducted a national survey of likely general election voters, including 300 Hispanics. Hispanics supported requiring a valid photo ID to vote (82 percent), prohibition of drivers' licenses (59 percent), repeal of sanctuary laws (67 percent) and eliminating birthright citizenship if neither parent is a U.S. citizen (53 percent).

A June 2007 Gallup poll found that an overwhelming majority of Hispanic-Americans (71 percent) thought immigration should stay at current levels or decrease.

According to Samuel Rodriguez Jr., president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, "Hispanic Christian voters overwhelmingly support an end to illegal immigration and the protection of the borders."

Zogby International surveyed likely voters in October 2008 and found that 51.5 percent of Hispanics agree that local law-enforcement officers should enforce federal immigration laws.

Just last month, Zogby International reported that a majority of people in Mexico (56 percent) thought giving legal status to illegal immigrants in the United States would make it more likely that people they know would go to the United States illegally. So if either Democrats or Republicans follow the advice of Mr. Guevara, our illegal immigration problem is likely to get worse, not better.

JERRY BLONDELL

Springfield