The Immigration Issue From A Different Perspective.

According to this story out of Tucson, Latinos are divided on the immigration issue. With millions of voices calling out for immigrants' rights, a set of voices aren't being heard, apparently.

A 2005 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that Latinos in general have favorable attitudes toward immigrants and immigration.

But when it comes to illegal immigration, significant numbers have negative views of illegal immigrants.

The survey found those feelings are strongest among middle-class and middle-age U.S.-born Latinos.

And though 68 percent of Latinos said they believe illegal immigrants help the economy by providing low-cost labor, nearly a quarter felt illegal immigrants hurt the economy by driving down wages.

U.S.-born Latinos looked even less favorably toward illegal immigrants than foreign-born Latinos.

More than a third of U.S.-born Latinos said illegal immigrants hurt the economy, compared with just 15 percent of foreign-born Latinos.

Latinos also are divided over whether to allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship. the survey found.

Though 88 percent of foreign-born Latinos favored allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship, a smaller number of U.S.-born Latinos, 78 percent, said illegal immigrants should be allowed to do so.

The reason we aren't hearing much from them?

...because so much of the debate over illegal immigration comes off as anti-Hispanic, Latinos who favor greater restrictions on immigration are often reluctant to speak out.

Tags: [immigration issue], [a different perspective from other Latinos], [some Latinos aren't speaking out]