http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.c ... emID/10775

February 3, 2006
Cost of Illegal Immigration Worries Americans

latest news and polls


(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in the United States cite economic problems as the main setbacks of illegal immigration, according to a poll by SRBI Public Affairs published in Time. 62 per cent of respondents are very concerned about the fact that illegal immigrants cost taxpayers too much money to provide them with services.

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that more than 7 million illegal immigrants are currently living in the country. A recent report by the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants at 10.3 million. While California is home to most workers, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina have the greatest rates of increase.

Almost half of all respondents believe American workers cannot afford to work for the same low wages as illegal immigrants, and think illegal immigrants increase the likelihood of terrorism in the U.S. 42 per cent of respondents believe they increase the amount of crime, 38 per cent say they take jobs from Americans, and 35 per cent think there are too many people in the U.S.

In January 2004, U.S. president George W. Bush tabled his proposal for a major overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. The plan includes a "temporary worker program" that would grant legal status to undocumented workers, who would pay taxes, be required to return to their home country after three years, and receive no special preference if they decide to apply for permanent citizenship.

In December 2005, Republican Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo said 51 persons who have crossed illegally into the U.S. were arrested on suspicion of terrorism, and added, "What scares me is the potentially hundreds of terrorists who make their way through our porous borders each year and go undetected."

In comments reproduced by the Denver Post, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spokesman Bill Carter disagreed with Tancredo’s assertion, saying, "I’m unaware of any instances at this time of individuals that have been charged with terrorism-related offences (among) individuals who have been smuggled across the border."

Polling Data

Concerns about illegal immigrants
(Respondents who are "Very Concerned")

Costs taxpayers too much money to
provide them with services 62%

They increase the likelihood of
terrorism in the U.S. 47%

American workers can’t afford to work for
the same low wages as illegal immigrants 47%

They increase the amount of crime 42%

They take jobs away from Americans 38%

There are too many people in the U.S. 35%



Source: Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs / Time
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.