Republican Latinos Face Queries on Immigrant Past

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — More Latino Republicans are seeking and winning elected office and their families' background are becoming the subject of increased scrutiny from some liberal Latino activists.

Experts say it's a reaction to Latino Republicans' conservative views on immigration, and the scrutiny into their background is a new phenomenon that Latino Democrats rarely faced.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican and the nation's only female Hispanic governor, recently found documents that suggested that her grandfather legally entered the country. Previous reports said her grandfather was an illegal immigrant.

Marco Rubio, Florida's Republican U.S. senator, also was accused of embellishing his family's immigrant story and later corrected his Senate website.

Brigham Young University history professor Ignacio Garcia said most Latino voters tend to vote Democratic but Republicans are more successful at recruiting Latino candidates.