Americans Reject Citizenship for Illegal Immigrants

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
May 4, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the U.S. believe illegal immigrants should not be eligible for citizenship under certain circumstances, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 56 per cent of respondents oppose granting citizenship to the child of an illegal alien born in the United States.

In addition, 55 per cent of respondents are against granting citizenship to the parents of children born in the United States, if they are in the country illegally.

In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.

In May 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.

On Apr. 30, Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, who is seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, expressed disappointment with Bush’s position on immigration, declaring, "I guess he could be congratulated for that. For changing the Congress from Republican to Democrat so he can get his immigration bill through." 48 per cent of respondents say they would vote for a congressional candidate who favours building a barrier along the Mexican border and forcing illegal aliens to leave the United States, while 36 per cent would support a candidate promising to expand legal opportunities for foreign workers to find jobs.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose granting citizenship to the child of an illegal alien born in the United States?

Support
35%

Oppose
56%



Would you support or oppose granting citizenship to the parents of children born in the United States, if they are in the country illegally?

Support
29%

Oppose
55%



Would you vote for a congressional candidate who favours building a barrier along the Mexican border and forcing illegal aliens to leave the United States or a candidate promising to expand legal opportunities for foreign workers to find jobs?

Building a barrier
48%

Expend opportunities
36%

Neither



Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 American adults, conducted on Apr. 30 and May 1, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.c ... emID/15613