The census bureau has just released some data that shows a rise in the U.S. Latino population and points to the fact that this surge is more due to the number of children — American-born U.S. citizens of Latino descent — than to the influx of immigrant workers. From CNN.com:

Bureau figures released Wednesday show the U.S. population grew by 2.8 million between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005. Hispanics accounted for 1.3 million of that increase, with 800,000 attributable to natural causes — births minus deaths — rather than immigration.

For all those who believe that the country is being “overtaken” by immigrant bandits slipping through our porous borders, just think instead that the country is being taken over by American babies. Much more pleasant image, isn’t it?”

It mutes the illegal-versus-legal debate,” said Linda Jacobsen, director of domestic programs for the Population Reference Bureau in Washington. “We need to be more focused on how we meet the needs of children in immigrant families who are citizens.”

The Latino population is growing, which is bad news for Republicans, according to one expert:

Potentially alienating Hispanic voters, he said, “is of concern to the Republican Party.”

Hispanic voters, he said, tend to “believe in a kind of social safety net.”

“They’re concerned about education and health care and believe the government should play a role in it,” Sawyer said. “That potentially means that many red states may turn blue, particularly those that still have a large African-American population.”

Via / CNN.com