Thread: Poll: Immigrants are burden to N.C.

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Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Poll: Immigrants are burden to N.C.
Negative opinion is up 12 percent since April

By Laura Giovanelli
JOURNAL REPORTER

An Elon University poll released yesterday indicates that North Carolinians feel more negative about the effect of Hispanic immigration on the state than they did just seven months ago.

A little more than 56 percent of the people polled said that the immigration of Hispanics has been bad for the state, up from 44.2 percent in April. About 18 percent said it has been good for the state, compared to 26.2 percent in April.

Elon polled 533 adults between Nov. 13 and 16. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. Elon conducted a similar poll of 677 adults about several issues, including immigration, in April.

Hunter Bacot, the poll's director and a political-science professor at Elon, said that the results reflect the value North Carolinians see Hispanic immigrants contributing or taking away, particularly in areas such as jobs and the economy.

"They are perceived as a burden on the state," Bacot said. "It looks like the popular perception among the public is that they are taking more than they are giving back."

Bacot said that the increase, about 12 percent, is notable, and might be traced to the election season and negative campaigning about illegal immigration. "When you see a double-digit movement, something happens," Bacot said.

Fifty-three percent said immigrants are a "burden on the state," down from 57 percent in April, but Bacot said those differences were statistically negligible given the margin of error. Nearly 29 percent of people polled agreed with the statement that immigrants "strengthen the state."

About 63 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed with proposals that would allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States for several years if they had a job, compared to 32 percent who agreed.

William Gheen, the president of the political-action committee Americans for Legal Immigration, based in Raleigh, said that the results aren't surprising, and if anything, underestimate citizen sentiment. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that our state has been invaded," he said. "Contrary to popular belief there is no lack of consensus on this issue."

A survey of major polls from around the country by the Pew Hispanic Center this year found that Americans are divided evenly on whether immigrants help or hurt the country.

Gheen thinks that the poll is biased, and objected to the wording of one question about whether Hispanic immigrants are good or bad for the state. "When you try to combine the two (Hispanics and immigrants), you are trying to hide the issue of illegal immigration. Not all immigration is Hispanic. Predominantly, but not all," he said.

The recent Elon poll found that immigration is the fourth most important issue to North Carolinians. Elementary and secondary education, the economy and jobs are the top three.

The Hispanic population in North Carolina has boomed, from 367,390 in 2000 to 544,470 in 2005, according to estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center. Perhaps 300,000 to 400,000 of them are illegal, according to the Pew Center.

The Elon poll also asked people their opinion about other topics:

? In education, teacher quality surfaced as the most important issue facing public schools - 13 percent of people polled mentioned it - and 11.4 percent were most worried about overcrowding.

? Among transportation issues, public transportation and gas prices were the top concerns. A little more than 49 percent said they opposed or strongly opposed toll roads, compared to 46.6 percent who are in favor of them.

? About 63 percent favored a ban on smoking in public places, and 32.7 percent opposed it.

• Laura Giovanelli can be reached at 727-7302 or at lgiovanelli@wsjournal.com.

Interestingly, this same poll information was in the Raleigh, N.C. N&O today. However, the portion quoted below was left out:

William Gheen, the president of the political-action committee Americans for Legal Immigration, based in Raleigh, said that the results aren't surprising, and if anything, underestimate citizen sentiment. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that our state has been invaded," he said. "Contrary to popular belief there is no lack of consensus on this issue."

A survey of major polls from around the country by the Pew Hispanic Center this year found that Americans are divided evenly on whether immigrants help or hurt the country.

Gheen thinks that the poll is biased, and objected to the wording of one question about whether Hispanic immigrants are good or bad for the state. "When you try to combine the two (Hispanics and immigrants), you are trying to hide the issue of illegal immigration. Not all immigration is Hispanic. Predominantly, but not all," he said.

The recent Elon poll found that immigration is the fourth most important issue to North Carolinians. Elementary and secondary education, the economy and jobs are the top three.

The Hispanic population in North Carolina has boomed, from 367,390 in 2000 to 544,470 in 2005, according to estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center. Perhaps 300,000 to 400,000 of them are illegal, according to the Pew Center.

The Elon poll also asked people their opinion about other topics:

? In education, teacher quality surfaced as the most important issue facing public schools - 13 percent of people polled mentioned it - and 11.4 percent were most worried about overcrowding.

? Among transportation issues, public transportation and gas prices were the top concerns. A little more than 49 percent said they opposed or strongly opposed toll roads, compared to 46.6 percent who are in favor of them.

? About 63 percent favored a ban on smoking in public places, and 32.7 percent opposed it.

Not surprising considering the fact that the article was buried in section 5B.

Thanks MW.

I've seen this happen several times when my comments were placed on the end of the article. The AP and local papers often cut off the opposing view.

W

Thanks MW.

I've seen this happen several times when my comments were placed on the end of the article. The AP and local papers often cut off the opposing view.

W

You're welcome.

added to homepage

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Not only are they a burden on the state, but culturally, their values clash with those of Americans. While we are a law abiding country, they have an "anything goes" mentality. When they get caught, they look for sympathy. I am not buying into it.