A majority of U.S. Hispanics say the growing focus on illegal immigration has made their lives tougher.

The report, released Thursday by the Pew Hispanic Center, also found Hispanics tend to believe illegal immigration helps the United States more than it hurts. This belief is more common among immigrants, but more than half of U.S.-born Hispanics agree.

More than half of those surveyed said they are worried about deportation for themselves or someone close to them. About half say they have had something negative happen as a result of increased enforcement of immigration laws.

Almost two-thirds say Congress' failure to pass an immigration reform law has made their lives more difficult.

Hispanics generally oppose measures used to find and deport illegal immigrants. Three-quarters oppose workplace raids and 79 percent local police identifying illegal immigrants, while just over half say states should not check for illegal immigrants applying for driver's licenses.

About 15 percent of the U.S. population is now Hispanic, the country's largest minority group. About one-quarter of Hispanic adults are believed to be in the country illegally.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 14 December 2007   

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