it is possible that certain states will deal with larger Latino populations long before others will. It is one of the things that makes the United STATES a tricky way to run a country. We are constantly debating what things individual states should have final say over, and what should be regulated by the Federal government. That leads to strange conflicts like the current one about the serial snipers being tried in the DC area. Three different states and the District of Columbia, with differing approaches to punishment, are all wanting to try these guys, and it took months just to decide who got first chance.

It also leads to women in one state sneaking over to another for abortions, and smuggling of cigarettes, and driving over the border for better bargains on alcohol.

So...Texas may need to deal with Mexican immegrants, legal and illegal, but Louisana, just to the east, may not like ANY compromise, given the large Acadian-French (Cajun) speaking population....and both those states have serious attitudes about 'their' culture. You can barely imagine what the Swedish/German/Norwegian areas in Minnesota or Wisconsin would have to say if they were informed that their kids MUST learn Spanish.

I can't tell you what will happen in 20-40-80 years, as much demographic change will depend on politics and the world situation as regards oil and religion..etc..but I think that the only way that 'might' prevent serious conflict (at least in the US) is to encourage keeping one's ethnic heritage alive, while insisting that immigrants and communities adapt to the lingua franca of the country, as defined by National commerce, business and the media. This would (IMHO) allow the best opportunity for advancement and integration that are necessary to compete in a complex society.