The Latino electorate knows very well that Republicans and their conservative friends have been the main source of the current anti-immigrant state. The failure to pass immigration reform, the DREAM Act and the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics have served to galvanize Latinos to vote on Nov. 4th. Their vote will be especially decisive in key swing states such as New Mexico, Colorado and Florida.

In a discussion held by the Center for New York City Affairs last week, Arturo Vargas from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials said that an estimated 9.2 million Latinos will vote in the presidential elections. He also pointed out that Latino youth and naturalized citizens are the driving force of this electorate. Indeed, the role of immigrant youth in the political process is a powerful new trend this election.

As a result of the anti-immigrant approach of the Bush administration following 9/11, immigrant youth educated and mobilized their communities for immigrant rights and immigration reform. In 2006, immigrant youth coordinated walkouts, press conferences and rallies advocating for immigration reform. Today they are mobilizing their communities to vote.