Poll: Latino Voters Overwhelmingly Support Obama's Executive Action

By Kate Sheehy
November 24, 2014

A poll released Monday showed Latinos across the United States overwhelmingly support President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration.

The order provides temporary protection to almost four million undocumented parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. 

Latino Decisions, a political opinion research firm, conducted the poll. More than 400 registered Latino voters participated in phone interviews over the course of three days, starting on the eve of the President’s announcement. Responses showed nine in 10 Latino voters support the executive action, while more than half of those voiced strong support.

"This was support that was really found across all different demographic subgroups," said
Matt Barreto, co-founder of Latino Decisions.

Barreto said immigration reform is a nonpartisan issue for Latino voters. Eighty percent of Latinos in the poll said they would oppose Republican efforts to block the executive action.

Barreto said immigration mobilizes Latinos to vote. Sixty-seven percent responded that it was either the most important or one of the most important factors in their decision to vote and who to vote for

Barreto admitted there was not record Latino voter turnout in the November 2014 midterm election. However, he said if 2012 is any indicator, there will be big turnout in the 2016 presidential election.