Thread: PEW: Broad Approval For New Arizona Immigration Law

people-press.org





Survey Reports
May 12, 2010
Broad Approval For New Arizona Immigration Law
Democrats Divided, But Support key Provisions

The public broadly supports a new Arizona law aimed at dealing with illegal immigration and the law’s provisions giving police increased powers to stop and detain people who are suspected of being in the country illegally.

Fully 73% say they approve of requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status if police ask for them. Two-thirds (67%) approve of allowing police to detain anyone who cannot verify their legal status, while 62% approve of allowing police to question people they think may be in the country illegally.

After being asked about the law’s provisions, 59% say that, considering everything, they approve of Arizona’s new illegal immigration law while 32% disapprove.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted May 6-9 among 994 adults, finds that Democrats are evenly split over Arizona’s new immigration law: 45% approve of the law and 46% disapprove. However, majorities of Democrats approve of two of the law’s principal provisions: requiring people to produce documents verifying legal status (65%) and allowing police to detain anyone unable to verify their legal status (55%).

Republicans overwhelmingly approve of the law and three provisions tested. Similarly, among independents there is little difference in opinions of the new Arizona law (64% approve) and its elements, which are viewed positively.

Young people are less supportive of the Arizona immigration law than are older Americans. Fewer than half (45%) of those younger than 30 approve of the new law while 47% disapprove. Majorities of older age groups – including 74% of those 65 and older – approve of the law.

However, even most young people approve of requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status; 61% approve of this element of the law while 35% disapprove. Larger percentages of older age groups support this provision.

Most Disapprove of Obama on Immigration As has been the case since last fall, the public is highly critical of Barack Obama’s handling of immigration policy. Just 25% approve of the way Obama is handling the issue, while more than twice as many (54%) disapprove. That is little changed from last month (29% approve) and down slightly from last November (31%).

In the current survey, 76% of Republicans disapprove of Obama’s handling of immigration policy, while just 8% approve. Independents disapprove of Obama’s job on the issue by more than two-to-one (57% to 25%). Even among Democrats, as many disapprove (38%) as approve (37%) of the way he is handling the issue, while a quarter (25%) offer no opinion.

http://people-press.org/report/613/ariz ... ration-law

Rush was stressing this Pew poll result about the new AZ law, as well as the Ras poll that shows 70% in Mass. oppose benefits for illegal immigrants.

Related:

The Hill
Poll shows strong support for Arizona immigration law
By Jordan Fabian - 05/12/10 11:58 AM ET

A poll released Wednesday shows that nearly 60 percent of Americans support Arizona's controversial new immigration law.

59 percent of respondents said they back the law in a Pew Research Center survey, while 32 percent said they oppose it.

The law requires that state and local law enforcement check the identification of people they suspect are in the country illegally, as long as they are stopped for other reasons.

Republicans support the law far more than Democrats do, 82 to 45 percent. A solid majority of independents, 64 percent, said they back it.

The law caused a stir on Capitol Hill; several lawmakers have called on Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform legislation, and critics have said it could lead to racial profiling.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) said she signed the law because the federal government has not protected the border and maintained it will not lead to profiling.

The public also expressed support for individual aspects of the law; 73 percent said they support requiring people to produce documents verifying their legal status, 67 percent want police to arrest people who cannot produce appropriate documents and 62 percent support police questioning anyone they believe is in the country illegally.

President Barack Obama also received low ranks on immigration. Twenty-five percent approve of his handling of the issue while 54 percent disapprove. 21 percent said they do not know.

Pew polled 994 adults nationally from May 6-9.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing- ... ration-law

Arizona Immigration Law Backed by Most Americans, Survey Finds
May 12, 2010, 12:52 PM EDT
By Chris Dolmetsch

May 12 (Bloomberg) -- Almost three-quarters of Americans support a provision of a new Arizona immigration law that requires people to produce documents verifying they are in the U.S. legally, a survey said.

About 73 percent of those polled by the Washington-based Pew Research Center for the People & the Press said they approve of the plan, while 23 percent said they disapproved, according to the survey released today. About 67 percent said they agree with letting police detain anyone who can’t verify their legal status, compared with 29 percent who disapproved.

When asked if police should be allowed to question anyone they think may be in the country illegally, about 62 percent said they approved and 35 percent disapproved. More than half, 59 percent, said they supported the new Arizona law as a whole, while 32 percent said they don’t support the legislation.

Governor Jan Brewer signed legislation last month that makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and requires local police to determine the immigration status of anyone suspected of being in the country without proper documentation. The action sparked protests and calls for boycotts of Arizona.

The law was supported by a majority of Republicans (82 percent), less than half of Democrats (45 percent) and 64 percent of independents, according to the survey. Among adults younger than 30 years old, 45 percent said they approved of the legislation, compared with 57 percent of those ages 30-49, 65 percent of those 50-64 and 74 percent of those over 65.

The survey of 994 adults was conducted by telephone from May 6 to May 9 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

--Editors: Mark Schoifet, Bill Schmick

To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Dolmetsch in New York at cdolmetsch@ bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Tackett at mtackett@ bloomberg.net.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-0 ... finds.html

bttt

Another example of the disconnect between the general public and many politicians.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5256--0-0.html

The law was supported by a majority of Republicans (82 percent), less than half of Democrats (45 percent) and 64 percent of independents, according to the survey.

I find the liberal view a little disturbing. I guess it's wishful thinking on my part, but I was hoping the Democrat voters would fall a little closer to most Americans on this issue.

Yes, I support SB 1070. Let's remove from office all politicians who support amnesty for illegal aliens. This November do not vote for Democrats. They support amnesty for illegal aliens. Some Republicans do the same. In 2012 let's elect another president. We need a new president to enforce current immigration laws; we new a new president to send troops to the borders. And the new president must not support amnesty for illegal aliens.

Of course children are against it. Children are the easiest minds to manipulate through the media. Plus children don't pay bills or have to fight for a job with a cheap wage illegally. I think you should have to be 21 to vote anyway.