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Poll: Illegals seen as 'burden'
But immigration termed 'good thing'

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, B) 2005 Rocky Mountain News
October 19, 2005

Most Coloradans still see the United States as the world's melting pot, but three-quarters believe illegal immigrants are a "burden" on the country, a new poll shows.

Just as Congress has begun debating tougher border security measures and other reforms, a Rocky Mountain News/CBS 4 poll finds Coloradans with complex views on immigration and a harsh view toward illegal immigrants.

In the survey of 500 likely Colorado voters, 61 percent said they "strongly" or "somewhat" agree with a statement that "Overall, immigration is a good thing."

But half of respondents said they "strongly agree" that "Illegal immigrants are a burden on the United States, because of their impact on things like schools, jobs, and health care." Another 23 percent said they "somewhat agree," for a total of 73 percent. Only twenty-six percent of respondents said they "somewhat" or "strongly" disagreed.

The statewide survey by Public Opinion Strategies was conducted Oct. 10 through 12, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.

The results suggest that immigration is not a black-and-white issue to many voters, regardless of party affiliation or ethnicity, said pollster Lori Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies.

"There seems to be strong nostalgia and beliefs in the melting pot . . . and most people's family histories with immigration," Weigel said. "At the same time, they're concerned with the perceived burdens it's posing on a number of (issues)."

When respondents were asked to rank what issues should be the highest priority for the federal government, 10 percent said illegal immigration, which tied with "job creation." Twenty percent listed "the budget deficit." Immigration also ranked behind "the cost and supply of energy" (18 percent), the "war in Iraq" (16 percent) and "terrorism" (14 percent).

"The fact that it pops up in the top tier of issues is a good sign, from my point of view, and should make others pay attention to it," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, who has challenged members of Congress and would-be presidential candidates to take up his hard-line crusade against illegal immigration.

Tancredo, a statewide and national lightning rod on the issue, earned a 31 percent favorable rating from the respondents. Nearly as many, 29 percent, said they have an unfavorable impression of him. One in five said they'd never heard of him and 18 percent had no opinion.

Congress began what could be months of debate on proposed immigration reforms on Tuesday, including President Bush's proposed guest worker plan. Testifying before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called for tougher border enforcement.

In Colorado, a group of state representatives recently traveled to the border in Arizona and are considering legislation that would limit government services for illegal immigrants.

The poll results bolster the case, said Rep. Jim Welker, R-Loveland.

"I knew for a while that the American people want something done on this," Welker said. "I'm not prejudiced at all, but people are breaking into our country. It's like people breaking into your business or your house."

Critics say the poll results suggest that immigrants are being used as scapegoats for social, economic or budget problems they did not cause.

"Part of the statistics reflect the anti-immigrant rhetoric," said Gabriela Flora, an organizer with the American Friends Service Committee, which is part of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.

She said people might be concerned about the economy or government budget shortfalls, but that illegal immigrants contribute more to society - including in labor and taxes - than they get back in government services.

"It's an easy way to divert attention from the real ways to find solutions," Flora said. "Coloradans are frustrated in some ways. That's why some people are contributing to scapegoating."

The poll shows resentment to illegal immigration cuts across ethnic and other lines, although more Republican males (18 percent) viewed the issue as the country's highest priority. Only 11 percent of Republican women ranked it the top priority.

Among whites in the survey, 78 percent agreed that illegal immigrants were a "burden," and so did 47 percent of Hispanics.

"That really is something we've felt for a long time," Tancredo said. "There is a much higher base of support among Latino voters for immigration reform than many people think."

Melody Dawson, a Highlands Ranch attorney who took the survey, said people are beginning to tie immigration to a host of other issues.

"We're cutting budgets everywhere, for the elderly, for mental health . . . and you're hearing about children who don't have health insurance," she said. She thinks illegal immigrants contribute to the problem.

"It's a fairly big issue," she said. "It might affect the way I vote for a candidate."

Val Forsmark, a retired journalist who took the survey, said she's not surprised so many people blame illegal immigrants.

"I disagree with the fact that everybody is so worried," Forsmark said. "We are supposedly one of the richest countries in the world. I think people just have to look more to their hearts."