Utah Latino Project says Republicans Should Expect Backlash

Feb 05, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) The Utah legislature has already considered several bills this session to crack down on illegal immigrants and restrict the government services they can receive. Tony Yapias with the Utah Latino Project says he's talked to Republican legislators who have told him it's the right time for this kind of legislation because it's an election year.

Yapias points out that since 1994, when California voters approved a proposition that denied illegal immigrants access to social services, Republicans have rarely been elected in any capacity in that state.

He says Republicans should expect a backlash both here in Utah and in the presidential election as Latinos become a more important voting block.

For Republican Latinos, Yapias says John McCain is by far the preferred candidate for his willingness to create a path to citizenship for immigrants.

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