America’s largest Hispanic Christian Organization, The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), The Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, called the recent Republican idea to consider amending the United States Constitution in order to revoke the birthright citizenship provision “Misguided and anti-Hispanic.”
“We are very disappointed with the rhetoric stemming from the Republican Party,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of NHCLC. “The recent Republican consideration on amending the constitution to deny citizenship to children of immigrants born in the U.S. may very well serve as the nail on the coffin to the inevitable alienation of America’s largest ethnic minority” stated Rev. Rodriguez. Republicans have succeeded in pushing away Latino voters, the nation’s fastest growing voting group, who supported George W. Bush in 2004 with 44% of the vote but whose support for the GOP has slipped to around 20% according to a Wall Street Journal Poll.
“Rather than broadening the conservative coalition, hard-line Republicans continue to narrow the appeal of the party to Latino voters,” added Rev. Rodriguez. “Endorsing proposals like Sensenbrenner’s legislation criminalizing immigrants, Arizona’s SB-1070 and now a proposed constitutional amendment denying birthright citizenship, sends a very clear message to Latinos: the party that seems to reflect the values of the Hispanic-American family is no longer the party of Reagan and Lincoln but now stands as the party responsible for polarizing communities, accepting racial profiling and building walls not in the desert of Arizona but unfortunately through Main Street U.S.A. We call upon Republicans leaders to immediately repudiate all anti-Hispanic rhetoric and channel all resources and energy to a Just Integration Strategy that protects our borders, ensures fairness to taxpayers and establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for undocumented immigrants.”
“Arizona’s anti-immigrant law and the possibility of amending the constitution create an atmosphere that facilitates a platform for demagoguery while simultaneously attracting xenophobic and nativist supporters,” said Rev. Eve Nunez, President, of the Arizona Latino Commission. “Republicans must vociferously rebuke both ideas in a manner that will engage the Latino electorate or otherwise suffer the consequences of alienating the nation’s fastest growing voting bloc.”
Conservatives may acquire short term gains in Congress by galvanizing white voters via the conduit of support for changing the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution and opposition to immigration reform but at the end of the day it is demographically and strategically impossible to win the White House without the Hispanic vote.
“By standing today as the staunchest opponents to immigration reform, the GOP sacrifices long term viability on the altar of short term expediency,” said NHCLC President, Rev. Rodriguez. “It is difficult for the Republicans to advocate for family values and simultaneously advocate deporting families. It’s irreconcilable biblically or morally. We need conservative leaders in Congress who are pro-family. These leaders need to stand up for family values by supporting comprehensive immigration reform this year.”
Conversely, the idea of amnesty undermines our nation’s security, dilutes our sovereign right to protect our borders and conveys a message of utter disrespect for the rule of law. While deportation of 12 million individuals is not practical, a Just Integration Strategy requires the identification and deportation of serious criminals while providing a pathway to integration for those hard working individuals that commit and demonstrate proficiency in English. In addition, integration requires admission of guilt, payment of fines and demonstration of financial sustainability. A Just Integration Strategy will protect the unity of the immediate family; ensure fairness to taxpayers, and respect for the rule of law.
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals unifying, serving and representing the Hispanic Born Again Community by reconciling the vertical and horizontal of the Christian Message via the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.