FAIR: Beware of Bogus Immigration Poll.
False Choice Yield False Polling Data About Immigration, FAIR Responds to Sham Immigration Poll
(Washington, D.C. - April 7, 2005) A new poll conducted on behalf of the open immigration advocacy group, the National Immigration Forum, reveals that even reputable polling organizations will conduct push polls to generate revenue in political off-years. The "National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration," released Thursday, also reveals that pollsters can get their clients the desired results by the questions they ask.
In an effort to create the appearance of public support for President Bush’s illegal alien amnesty and guest worker proposal, the poll conducted by Lake, Snell, Perry, Mermin & Associates, in conjunction with The Tarrance Group, asked respondents to choose from among very limited options for dealing with the illegal immigration crisis facing the nation. The choices presented to respondents "registering" millions of illegal aliens, or mass deportations of millions of illegal aliens. The poll ignored many other strategies for addressing mass illegal immigration that have wide support among the American public.
"Garbage in, garbage out, is the best way to describe the findings of this poll," commented Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "The only legitimate finding of this poll is that the American public is fed up with the status quo. But everybody already knew that.
"Sometimes what is not asked is more important than what is asked. And what wasn’t asked speaks volumes about the objective of the pollsters," Stein added. Notably missing from the options for dealing with mass illegal immigration were questions about cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens with impunity, and limiting the aliens’ access to dozens of government programs that encourage millions of people to remain here.
"Deportation needs to be a component of a strategy to deal with the illegal immigration crisis, but no one seriously believes that that alone will work," said Stein. "Respondents were given the impression that mass deportation is the only enforcement option available. In countless polls of American voters, when people are given the full range of enforcement options, the overwhelming majority always support enforcement of employer sanctions laws, better cooperation with local law enforcement, and limiting illegal aliens’ access to nonemergency services and benefits.�
Empirical evidence also belies the National Immigration Forum’s contention that American voters are comfortable with an amnesty/guest worker program along the lines of what President Bush has laid out. "There were a lot of smart people in the Bush Campaign. It was not by accident that the president’s plan, first floated in January 2004, was quickly yanked from the table last year. It wouldn’t fly with the voters before the election and it won’t fly now."
"With the Minutemen now patrolling the border and dozens of radio talk show hosts from around the country set to come to Washington later this month to oppose amnesty/guest worker legislation, it is quite clear where public opinion stands and no push poll will change that," said Stein.
