Approximately 14,000 Hispanic Democratic voters in Orange County, CA recently received a Spanish-language letter warning them to stay away from the polls:
Be advised that if your residence in the United States is illegal or if you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that can result in incarceration, and possible deportation for voting without the right to do so. …
Not like in Mexico, here there is no benefit to voting. In the United States there is no registration card to vote. Therefore, it is useless and dangerous to vote in any election if you are not a citizen of the United States.
Do not pay attention to a politician who may try to tell you otherwise. They only care about their own interests.
This letter is a deceptive ploy to suppress Hispanic voter turn-out. Immigrants who are naturalized U.S. citizens can legally vote. The letter has now been traced back to the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican challenger to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).
Twenty-two organizations have written to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting an investigation into the Orange County voter suppression. California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has ordered an investigation into the mailing, which may have violated the Voting Rights Act. Read House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) statement HERE.
UPDATE: MSNBC Breaking News is reporting that “Calif. GOP leaders want candidate to drop out after threat to Hispanic voters.”