The court's decision "just adds fuel to the fire that's already raging," said Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist. "Each of these events raises the intensity and the Latino turnout even more."

In the wake of the ruling, immigration activists vowed payback in November's election and staged protests on Thursday.

FIRING UP LATINO VOTERS

A recent survey by Latino Decisions, a polling firm, showed that about half of the U.S. Hispanic electorate showed greater enthusiasm to vote in 2016 as compared to 2012, with support for Obama's pro-immigrant executive orders running high.

"We should expect similar dynamics this fall, perhaps even more so given the election is likely to determine the ideological direction of the Supreme Court," said David Damore, an analyst for the firm.

Given Trump's unpopularity with Latino voters, the question for many Democrats both in and outside the Clinton campaign has been less about attracting the bloc's support and more about making sure it votes in large enough numbers to help offset Trump's expected advantage among white voters.

The court's decision may also help make traditionally Republican states with increasing Hispanic populations such as Arizona more competitive this election, strategists in both parties said.

Reed Galen, a Republican strategist in California, said the ruling could boost Democratic hopes in Latino-heavy battleground states such as Nevada, Colorado, and Florida.

"The issue isn't getting [Latino voters] fired up," Galen said. "It's getting them to show up."

Galen believes there is little his party can do now to mitigate the damage he believes Trump has done to its appeal among Hispanics. A Republican National Committee "autopsy" report after Romney's defeat said it was essential for the party to broaden its appeal to Hispanic voters by embracing immigration reform.

"Trump has pushed the envelope on immigration so far for Republicans, I don't know this is going to be any more damaging," he said. "The barn's already been blown up."