There are about 47.8 million foreign-born people in the United States — more than three-fourths of whom are here legally, according to
Cynthia Hawkins and Bill Christopher both depict themselves as moderates whose vote preferences this year are being steered, at least in part, by worries over immigration.
But it’s not driving their votes the same way.
Instead, their shared concerns about the sheer number of new arrivals to the country in recent years, along with the resulting strains on local budgets and services, are cleaved by the incendiary rhetoric surrounding one of the most divisive issues at play in the November election.
Immigration policy and border security have proven to be key issues, both for candidates and the electorate — and especially those on the conservative side of the political spectrum. Nationwide, and in some of Colorado’s closely contested congressional races, it may prove pivotal to who wins on Nov. 5.
In the Voter Voices survey conducted in recent months by news outlets across Colorado, including The Denver Post, most self-identified conservatives listed immigration among their top three voting issues, with few liberals ranking it high. But moderates also frequently brought up immigration concerns.
Hawkins, a respondent who lives in Jefferson County, said she’s not opposed to immigration as a whole, but she is against “the flood that’s been coming over the border.” She added that she’s worried about the possibility of increased taxes going toward supporting migrants in metro Denver.
It cements her vote for former President Donald Trump, again the Republican nominee in the presidential race.
“We’ve had so many illegal immigrants come into the country,” Hawkins said in an interview. “It’s costing our communities, the hospitals and the schools.”
Christopher, who lives in Westminster, likewise worried about the stress that the influx of people has put on local governments. As a former city manager of Westminster, he knows firsthand the challenges local governments face in meeting community needs.
But he’s also “appalled” by Trump’s characterization of migrants in speeches and on the campaign trail, noting that he doesn’t need to go far back in his own family history to find his Irish immigrant roots. He’s voting for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
The country needs a more orderly system to process immigrants that helps new arrivals and keep services from being overwhelmed, he said — even if that means turning some people away. He also supports Harris’ plan to create a pathway to citizenship.
“I feel for the people who find themselves in this position,” Christopher said. “Hopefully, over time, we can solve most of this, but it’s going to be slow, it’s going to be expensive and it’s going to take away from other things local government — whether it’s county or city — could be doing.”
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Among candidates, every Republican running for Congress who responded to The Post’s candidate questionnaire listed immigration or the southern border as a top issue if elected.
And at the top of the ticket, there may be no bigger chasm between the major presidential candidates.
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Source:: The Denver Post – Politics