Released: June 20, 2007
UPI/Zogby Poll: Government Mishandling Immigration

Almost all Americans take dim view of Bush and Congressional actions on immigration reform

Americans give both President Bush and the Congress failing marks on their handling of immigration, according to a new UPI/Zogby poll on the topic.

The Zogby Interactive poll of 8,300 adults nationwide finds just 3% of Americans viewing Congress's handling of the immigration issue in favorable terms, while 9% say the same of the President-even as respondents in the survey rated it the second most important issue facing the country, after the war in Iraq.

As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on an immigration reform bill tomorrow in Washington, Americans said they take a dim view of that bill, with just 38% holding a favorable view of the legislation. The poll also suggests that those most favorably-disposed toward the bill are those who view guest worker programs and a pathway to citizenship for those now in the country illegally as the most important aspects of the immigration debate.

The Internet survey, conducted June 15-18, 2007, included 8,300 U.S. adults and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.1 percentage points, and was sponsored by United Press International.

Enforcing Immigration Laws a Top Concern

Nearly two in three Americans (64%) would prefer their Congressional representative worked to pass immigration reforms that were more restrictive, while just one in four (26%) would back making the U.S.'s borders more open.

Despite this, increasing border security ranks a distant second for Americans as a top immigration-related issue, with enforcing existing immigration laws among those already living in the U.S. the top issue for a 42% plurality.

Top Immigration Issue
Adults
Democrats
Republicans
Independents

Enforcing immigration laws among those already living in U.S.
42%
37%
44%
47%

Increasing border security
29%
15%
44%
29%

Guest worker program/reform applying for citizenship
23%
37%
10%
20%

Plurality Views Illegal Immigrants as "Burden"

Advocates of a pathway to citizenship or a guest worker program may have a difficult road ahead, given the dim view the public holds of those in the country illegally.

Illegal immigrants who live and work within the U.S. are seen as a burden by a 46% plurality of Americans. Fewer than half as many - 22% - see them as a benefit.

This view is particularly strong among Republicans and independents, among whom majorities call illegal immigrants a burden, while Democrats are more inclined to see the undocumented workers as either a benefit or neither a benefit nor a burden.

Are illegal immigrants...?
Adults
Democrats
Republicans
Independents

Benefit
22%
36%
9%
19%

Burden
46%
23%
65%
52%

Neither/Both
30%
38%
24%
27%


Majority Favors Making States Help Enforce Borders
Seven in 10 Americans (69%) favor compelling state and local governments to help enforce the U.S. borders, which is now a federal responsibility. This issue has been a flashpoint in recent years, with state and local governments refusing to help enforce the nation's borders for reasons ranging from the costs associated with enforcement to cities declaring themselves sanctuaries for immigrants who are in the country illegally.

It comes as no surprise that the strongest advocates for this position also consider border security the top immigration-related issue. Interestingly, though, a full 44% of those who back guest worker programs support this approach as well.

Deportation Not Backed by Majority
Despite the public's negative views of illegal immigrants, Americans do not overwhelmingly embrace deportation as a solution. While it is the single most popular means of dealing with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country, just 37% back outright deportation as a solution, while another 11% favor deporting illegal immigrants if they commit any crimes. Slightly more than one in four respondents, meanwhile, believe they should be allowed to stay if they have jobs and pass background checks.

-Z-


For a complete methodological statement on this survey, visit:

http://www.zogby.com/methodology/readmeth.dbm?ID=1193

(6/20/2007)

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1328