TIME Poll of U.S. Hispanics

BY THE NUMBERS

The U.S. Hispanic population has increased 17% in the past four years, to 41.3 million. Hispanics are projected to account for 46% of all U.S. population growth over the next 20 years. Although only 62% of all U.S. Hispanic adults have finished high school, 84% of U.S.-born Hispanics graduate. The median net worth of Hispanic households is $7,932, less than one-tenth the figure for non-Hispanic whites, $88,651. There were 1.6 million Hispanic-owned firms in the U.S. in 2002, a 30% increase since 1997. U.S. Hispanic workers sent an estimated $30 billion home to Latin American countries in 2003

ORIGINS AND IMMIGRATION

Today Hispanics are 14% of the U.S. population. About half were born outside the U.S., but most want to blend into American society

Country of ancestry

Mexico … 58%

Puerto Rico … 10%

Spain … 5%

Cuba … 5%

Dominican Rep. … 4%

U.S. … 4%

El Salvador … 2%

Portugal … 1%

All others … 11%

Place of birth:

Mainland U.S. 46%

Elsewhere 49%

Puerto Rico: 5%

Primary language spoken at home:

Spanish 43%

English 32%

Both 23%

Other/No answer: 2%

How important is it for Latinos to blend into the larger U.S. society?

Very important 64%

Somewhat important 24%

Not too important: 5%

Not at all important: 3%

Don’t know: 4%

Is legal immigration ...

... good for the U.S.? 65%

... bad for the U.S.? 17%

It depends/don’t know 17%

How much legal immigration should the U.S. allow?

More 32%

Less 17%

Same as now 41%

How serious a problem is illegal immigration?

61%

•Extremely 29%

•Very 32%

35%

•Somewhat 22%

•Not very 13%

Are illegal immigrants ...

... taking jobs from U.S. citizens? 14%

... taking jobs U.S. citizens don’t want? 74%

POLITICS AND ISSUES

Hispanics tend to be Democrats, but President Bush grabbed a significant share of their votes in 2004. Education and jobs are top concerns

Political affiliation:

Democrat 38%

Independent 22%

Republican 16%

Which party better represents the interests of Hispanics?

Democratic 54%

Republican 16%

Neither 9%

Do you expect a Hispanic to be nominated for President or Vice President ...

... in 2008?

Yes 40%

No 53%

... in 2012?

Yes 54%

No 37%

President Bush’s job performance:

Approve 44%

Disapprove 45%

Was the U.S. right to go to war with Iraq?

Yes 34%

No 56%