PoliticsLou BarlettaPoliticshispanics

Lou Barletta: GOP Can't 'Win Over' Uneducated, Government-Dependent Latinos

GOP Rep Questions Effort To 'Win Over' Uneducated, Dependent Latinos
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Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., center right, stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, center left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. The official oath of office for all members of the House was administered earlier in the House chamber. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Avowed immigration hardliner Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) announced his immediate opposition on Monday to a bipartisan Senate framework on comprehensive immigration reform, suggesting that it could be serving as an ill-advised Republican olive branch to Latino voters.

Barletta went on to say that the GOP should have no interest in providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, claiming that most are uneducated, government-dependent individuals who wouldn't support the party.

"I hope politics is not at the root of why we're rushing to pass a bill. Anyone who believes that they're going to win over the Latino vote is grossly mistaken," Barletta said, according to the Morning Call. "The majority that are here illegally are low-skilled or may not even have a high school diploma. The Republican Party is not going to compete over who can give more social programs out. They will become Democrats because of the social programs they’ll depend on."

The Senate "gang of eight" includes four Republican lawmakers, who in their crafting of the plan have undertaken an effort acknowledged by the GOP following the party's losses in the 2012 elections. Many Republicans have noted their past failures to resonate with Latino voters, and have sought to shift policies and messaging in hopes of improving the party's outreach.

But Barletta, a former mayor with a controversial past of supporting strict immigration enforcement measures, appears to believe that the latest campaign for immigration reform can be boiled down to "amnesty."

"It's amnesty that America can't afford," Barletta said. "We have to stop people from coming in illegally. This will be a green light for anyone who wants to come to America illegally and then be granted citizenship one day."

(Read more on the comprehensive Senate immigration reform framework here)

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama will deliver his own speech in Las Vegas, outlining his own priorities for immigration reform.

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Before You Go

Bipartisan Immigration Plan's Key Provisions
"Gang Of Eight"(01 of08)
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A bipartisan group of senators have come together to address the issue of immigration reform. The group consists of four members of each party -- Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado, plus Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida, John McCain of Arizona and Jeff Flake of Arizona. Their framework was announced Monday. (credit:Getty Images)
Pathway To Citizenship(02 of08)
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A "tough but fair" road to citizenship is the main tenet of the bipartisan immigrant plan. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is the most significant supporter of this idea, giving hope to those who doubt Republicans will support the plan. (credit:AP)
The New Process (03 of08)
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The new process of obtaining citizenship would be just that -- a process. Probationary citizens would be required to pass an additional background check, learn English, pay taxes and show that they have a history of employment to apply for permanent residence and a green card. Undocumented immigrants will receive green cards after all probationary citizens have been processed, ensuring that documented immigrants are addressed first. Separate processes would be designed for young undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children and agricultural workers. (credit:AP)
Enforcement, Then Green Cards(04 of08)
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The first goal, before any green cards are handed out, is to "demonstrate our commitment to securing our borders and combating visa overstays," the senators say in their framework. (credit:Getty Images)
Enhance Border Security And Drones(05 of08)
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Emphasizing enforcement measures, the framework calls for increased boarder control, including more border agents and aerial surveillance and drones. A new system would be added to ensure visa stays are being adhered to, along with a commission of border lawmakers to aid legislation. (credit:Getty Images)
Increase Employment Verification(06 of08)
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The senators have proposed to create an "effective employment verification system" that would help prevent identity theft while allowing employers to feel secure in hiring documented immigrants. (credit:AP)
No Benefits For Probationary Immigrants(07 of08)
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Immigrants who are in the probationary category would not be eligible for federal benefits in the senators' framework. This addresses the concern that public benefits, particularly health-related ones, are being spent on undocumented immigrants. (credit:AP)
An Easier Path For 'The Best And Brightest'(08 of08)
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The framework recognizes that a different sort of process would be needed for "the best and brightest," including highly-skilled workers and those with higher education. This has been previously addressed in the STEM Act which was ultimately vetoed by the White House. (credit:AP)
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