Illegal immigration still hot topic in Utah races

Candidates who think illegal immigration isn't playing a role in their election bids may want to take a second look at the issue, according to the author of a recent report examining the undocumented population by congressional districts.

The report by the Immigration Policy Center, a pro-immigration think tank, shows a trend in which undocumented immigrants are moving into congressional districts across the country where the undocumented population has traditionally been nearly nonexistent.

While the undocumented lack the right to vote, many live with someone — a U.S.-citizen child or a legal immigrant — who could eventually vote, said Rob Paral, the report's author.

"To the extent that the debate is extremely harsh and negative it disaffects the citizen children of the undocumented, and in Utah those are your future voters," Paral said. "Immigration really is no longer something that really just affects a few areas. It really is an issue that all representatives need to look at in terms of their own district."

The report, based on estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Census Bureau, also suggests politicians with small but growing undocumented populations were more likely to vote for the bill the House passed last December to bolster border security and crack down on those who hire undocumented workers. All three of Utah's congressmen voted for the measure.

Republican Rep. Chris Cannon is running for re-election against Democrat Christian Burridge in the district with the state's most undocumented immigrants. An estimated 38,000 undocumented immigrants made up nearly 6 percent of the population in the 3rd District, and their numbers have grown by just over half since 2000.

Democrat Jim Matheson, who faces a challenge from Republican state Rep. LaVar Christensen, saw the most growth in his district — 64 percent, to 23,000 undocumented immigrants. Republican Rep. Rob Bishop is running for re-election against Democrat Steve Olsen in the 1st District, where the undocumented population of 29,000 has grown by only 4 percent since 2000.

Some immigrants, like Blanca Rafael, will vote for the first time next Tuesday after witnessing thousands of undocumented immigrants take to the streets to protest the House's vote to crack down on the undocumented and those who help them.

"That sparked everything," said Raphael, 32, who was moved by the plight of the undocumented and became a citizen just in time to register to vote in the Nov. 7 election.

"We need to be sure we have people in office who can handle the issue appropriately, properly, and make sure the public, in general, are well informed," she said.

However, nationwide energy from the protests that mobilized Rafael has apparently fallen short.