Arizona-Like Immigration Plan Splits California GOP

In California, where Latinos comprise the fastest-growing portion of the electorate, some Republicans want their own version of Arizona’s controversial immigration law—but others disagree, and the party rift is threatening the measure’s chances of getting on the 2012 ballot. "It's completely counterproductive to the future of the party as well as counterproductive to the immigration debate and coming to a real solution," one GOP strategist tells the Los Angeles Times.

Some party leaders are afraid supporting such a measure will harm the party’s relationship with Latinos—and it’s not so great to begin with: A record-breaking Latino turnout in the midterm elections gave Democrats a sweep in a year that was otherwise favorable to Republicans. Supporters, however, insist that the party needs a clearer message on immigration. Among other things, the proposed Support Federal Immigration Law Act would require police to check immigration status if they stop someone whom they think may be an illegal immigrant.