Thread: Asians in VA divided over aid to illegal aliens

Asians in VA divided over aid to illegal aliens


FAIRFAX, Virginia - Virginians are deeply divided on immigration policies, according to a recent survey by researchers at George Mason University’s Center for Social Science Research.
It said that while many Virginians, including Asian Americans, are reluctant to have the government provide additional services to undocumented immigrants, racial, socio-economic and political factors draw more severe lines in the public’s opinion on immigration.

The survey, done as part of the Mason Project on Immigration, was conducted during a three week period ending June 5, at a time of rising debate and news coverage of immigration policy.

“Not surprisingly, Latinos are consistently supportive of measures that would provide greater support to immigrant populations; Asian Americans seem somewhat less supportive. Most important here, however: African Americans emerge as the most cautious ethnic group, and often express fear that undocumented immigration will undermine their positions within the economy and society.

But on the question of having local police check run immigration status checks on people they encounter during routine activities has divided many law enforcement officials. Although many analysts fear that such a policy would erode needed trust in law enforcement officers, others feel that immigration law must be enforced at the local level. Our data suggest that a clear majority of Virginians (73%) favor giving such an active role to local police officers. The data also suggest that ethnic divisions again obtain. Non-hispanic whites and African Americans favor giving police such authority, while Latinos and Asians do not.

Topics covered were extensive and included sensitive issues such as government-sponsored day labor centers, Minutemen-like border patrol groups, crime, unemployment, quality of life and even terrorism.

“Given the difficulty that federal legislation has faced, we need to pay careful attention to perceptions at the state and local level," said sociologist Steven Vallas, director of the center and the study’s designer. “This survey provides a timely portrayal of how the immigration debate has taken shape in the commonwealth and speaks to how the nation at large is sharply divided on the issue."

Based on interviews with a random sample of 1,072 respondents drawn from around the state, the survey showed that when looking at race, African Americans emerge as the most cautious ethnic group, and often express fear that undocumented immigrants will undermine their positions within the economy and society.

Nearly half of all African Americans in the survey (49 percent), compared with only 29 percent of non-Hispanic whites, agreed strongly that undocumented immigration tends “to lower the wages and salaries of American workers.â€

I bet you that these Asian Americans don't have illegal aliens in the numbers we have here in California. They will change their minds once they have some drive-bys, drug busts, failing schools, pregnant teens, GANGS, social program frauds and abusers, and significantly increased crime. Illegals are bringing in the worst of Mexico's society.

Originally Posted by GS07

I bet you that these Asian Americans don't have illegal aliens in the numbers we have here in California. They will change their minds once they have some drive-bys, drug busts, failing schools, pregnant teens, GANGS, social program frauds and abusers, and significantly increased crime. Illegals are bringing in the worst of Mexico's society.