It's a very interesting subject. I would like to share my 2 cents on this. Portuguese are white and european, saying otherwise is just too ridiculous to mention. But what is more striking is that the ones that are suggesting that the Portuguese should be tossed in the hispanics category are mostly of Portuguese origin itself. It may seem sad to a few, but that is failing to see the whole picture.

Portuguese immigrants in the United States want to preserve their culture (and specially their way of life) above all things. What we are taught about the English is the same for the Portuguese. Portugal was, like England, one of the last bastions of religion in Europe, either Catholic or Anglican. It is not the same for Spain and specially France. And what is true for family integrity for the English countryman is the same for the native Portuguese. Culturaly, the Portuguese are closer to the English and the Anglicans of Northern Europe. I'm not saying it is good. As a matter of fact, the Portuguese very conservative way of life tends to isolate them from all other ethnicities because of some peculiarities of the catholic religion that do not fit Portugal's profile such as it does for France or Spain or Poland. Even more dramatic, the portuguese extreme family life has a tendency to isolate their immigrants not only socially but economically. That's what is in the stake here.

Do we want the portuguese to stay a separate entity, or do we want them to grow together with the whole of the american white society? There's nothing wrong with culture and family. But we have to be careful and not to confuse culture with using it as an excuse not to have to cope with change. Do we really need to protect absolete ways of life when even Portugal herself is trying so hard to open up to the world and get rid of its former image? Doing so would prove to be very inconsequent.

That's the kind of mistake that makes American policies and laws being such a hot topic when it's time for jokes among European politicians, not only French and Ferman by the way. Hopfuly, American congressman know what they are doing and are not doing so just out of overreacting to the Mexican problem. Also, are these new laws really necessary? This is not to be confused with positivist discrimination practiced in France. America is not a socialist country in any way. My guess is these ridiculous laws will only make things even worse for Portuguese youth in America and the new flow of immigrants from eastern part of Europe, like the Romanians or Moldavians for instance. If such new legislation happens to see the light then are we prepared with political confrontation with not as friendly slavic countries as they join the European Union? A softening in tone is in rule and we must clear out the individuals with political agenda from the honest people in any debate that involves the Europeans. It's a very touchy subject, to say the least