Transcript
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The hosts introduce the immigration topic, explain why viewers are asking about it, and preview the guests who will break down the political and legal angles.
All right, and you guys can't stop asking questions about immigration and we're following your clicks and curiosity.It looks like you guys want to know how the president's policies are shaping the midterms and what to know about your rights as we head into the polls.So, let's break it down.We've got our Steven Portnoy up first, then Mario Masoudi Dowd.Y'all, thank you so much for being here on this Friday.Let's start with Trump's immigration policies and the implications behind it.Steven Portnoy is here and he's following this for us.Steven, appreciate you, man.
Steven Portnoy explains how voters, especially Hispanic voters, are reacting to Trump's immigration policies and why some Republicans are distancing themselves. The segment also covers Democratic messaging and how immigration could affect Tuesday's races.
So, immigration was an issue that helped President Trump win back the White House, but we're sort of seeing a very different reaction.I mean, how are voters actually viewing the issue, especially Latino voters as we head into Tuesday?
Yeah, Aashen.Our latest ABC News Washington Post episode poll from earlier this month showed something really remarkable.We asked voters what party they most trust to handle a variety of issues.On immigration, our poll shows voters are roughly split now, but by two points, inside the margin of error, more Americans now trust the Democrats to handle immigration better than Republicans, 37 to 35%.And when it comes to the president's handling of immigration, about six in 10 Americans say they disapprove.Three quarters of Hispanic voters disapprove.
Wow.I mean, what a kind of a flip in that sort of perspective.And it's not just the Democrats, right, Steven?I mean, we're seeing some Republicans actually distance themselves from the administration over immigration, like Florida Congresswoman Maria Salazar and New Hampshire Senate candidate John Sununu.Does it seem like Republicans in competitive races believe that the president's policies could actually cost them on Tuesday?
Well, Aashen, in key races, our data indicates why those candidates would distance themselves from the president specifically on immigration.Trump's overall approval is at a record low of 33%, but with Hispanic voters, it's at 24% and three quarters of Hispanic voters say they disapprove of his performance in the job.58% of Hispanic likely voters say that they're are inclined to support a Democratic congressional candidate compared to 37% who say that they would support a Republican for the House.So, you're looking at a 21-point spread among Hispanic voters, much wider than our survey of the overall population which gave Democrats an 8-point advantage.So, you see why some Republicans would say they don't align with the president's policies specifically on immigration.
And it feels like the messaging and kind of really depends on where you are.Like, what kind of messaging are we actually seeing from some of the Democrats?Like, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, he's calling himself a border security Democrat.
You know, I obviously there's some moderation there, but the the every single Democratic candidate this year is criticizing the tactics of ICE and the Border Patrol, pointing to the examples of people who've had deadly confrontations with law enforcementlike Alex Pretty in Minneapolis.To the extent that the issue worked for Republicans and President Trump specifically 2 years ago, there is certainly the possibility that voters will reject the president's party this year in part for the way the administration has aggressively steppedup immigration enforcement.The president, by the way, is not shirking from this.He mentions the idea at every rally that he, as he puts it, closed the border.It's at or near the very top of his list as he lays out what he sees as his administration's accomplishments.
It's just going to be fascinating to see how this plays into the next few days and especially leading up to this Tuesday.Stephen, thanks so much for joining us, man.
Immigration attorney Miriam Masum Daoud answers basic questions about voting eligibility, including naturalized citizens, green card holders, and mixed-status families. She explains who can vote and what participation is allowed for non-citizens.
Let's bring in immigration attorney Miriam Masum Daoud for what to know about your rights at the polls.Miriam, thank you so much for being here.I just want to go over some of the basics cuz we're seeing a lot of this come up in search.Can naturalized citizens actually vote in the United States?
Yes, naturalized citizens can vote in US elections and federal elections and state elections.Their vote counts exactly the same as somebody who was born in the United States.And there's roughly about 26 million naturalized citizens who can partake in this process.
I got you.Now, now what about green card holders, Miriam?
So, green card holders are not eligible to vote in any federal or state elections.There are some jurisdictions in the United States where non-citizens of the US can engage in local elections?Very like about 16 different jurisdictions, but ultimately green card holders don't have that ability.They do have the ability to still participate in the democratic process.So, they can contribute funds to a particular campaign.They can help their neighbors with getting registered to vote.They can be involved in you know, as part of a campaign, but they cannot exactly vote.
Uh that's really useful context.Thank you.And does the status of your family members actually impact your ability to vote?Because a lot of people are wondering.
No, it doesn't.So, when you apply to vote and when you're a naturalized citizen, your voter registration is only linked to you.It does not link to members of your family.So, this is often a concern for mixed status families, but fortunately when it comes to voting, they're only looking at your particular immigration status and whether or not you can vote.
The attorney gives practical advice for anyone whose eligibility is challenged at the polls, including reporting intimidation and using provisional ballots. She also explains what to do if federal agents come to your door asking questions about voting or immigration status.
Mariam, give us some sort of tips and from your expertise, what should someone actually do if their eligibility is challenged by a poll worker on Tuesday?
Well, first of all, it is important to to realize that voter intimidation it is illegal.So, if you are challenged by a poll worker about your immigration status, it is important to make sure that you talk to your state election office and also you can call a hotline where it's 866 you vote andthat is a way to ensure that that information is reported.But as far as you being challenged, if you have your certificate of naturalization or your passport, that certainly shows that you have your citizenship.And you can also ask for provisional ballot to make sure that you're able to vote.But at this point, they should not be asking questions about your immigration status at the polls.
And Mariam, we've actually also seen reports of instances of federal agents showing up at people's doors actually asking about voting.What should a person say if that happens?
Well, you have the most privacy in your home.So, you do not have to open the door to anybody who comes knocking on it to try to talk to you about your immigration status.And ultimately, you know, if a federal agent does approach you at your home, you can choose to not answer.If you do answer, you do have to let them know that you don't have to answer any of their questions.And the only time they're actually entitled to talk to you or enter into your home for cause is if they have a warrant signed by a judge.And that's really important.Um but ultimately, you don't have to answer any questions if you don't want to.
Really, really useful tips.Mariam Azimi-Daoud, thank you so much for your time.