How do we create an antidote to the politics of division? UnidosUS Deputy Vice President Clarissa Martinez-de-Castro joins Billy Shore to discuss immigration policies, Latino civic engagement and turning out the vote. “If you look at surveys and opinion research for the last ten years, the majority of the American people actually want to see a functional immigration system. There is a vocal and very loud minority that has hijacked the ability to make progress on this issue and made legislators scared to take action,” explains Martinez. “We sometimes see politicians using the politics of division… using the issue of immigration to stir up anxiety about the demographic change in our country and to stir up antagonism against immigrants,” she says.

 Martinez thinks that both parties are missing a huge opportunity with Latino voters. “I’m sad to say that over the last ten years, one of the parties has either ignored Latinos or actually antagonized them. Given that, the other party tends to take Latino voters for granted,” she notes about one of the fastest growing segments of the electorate. “For people who care about having jobs, good schools for their children and a good roof over your head, the growth of the Latino electorate should be a welcome development because those are the priorities that motivate this electorate,” says Martinez.

Join us for an informative and urgent conversation with one of the most knowledgeable advocates on Latino civic engagement, voter registration and more just immigration policies.

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