Thread: Poll Shows More Support for Illegal Immigrants

Survey reports 47% of Californians believe such residents have a 'favorable impact.'
By Anna Gorman, Times Staff Writer
March 10, 2006

The majority of Californians support a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants and do not believe that they are taking jobs from the state's residents, according to a statewide poll released Thursday.

In addition, those surveyed hold a more positive view of illegal immigrants than in previous years, the nonpartisan Field Poll reported. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed last month believe that undocumented immigrants are having a "favorable impact" on the state, compared to 19% in 1982.


Voters and nonvoters, however, hold dramatically different views on the subject. About 36% of voters believe illegal immigrants have a favorable impact on the state, compared to 64% of nonvoters.

The poll comes a week after the U.S. Senate began debating a series of immigration reforms. The House passed legislation in December that emphasized employer sanctions and tighter enforcement along the border.

The Republican Party also has endorsed a guest-worker program, which President Bush has said needs to be a central part of immigration reform.

The Field Poll reported that 65% of people surveyed last month said they supported a temporary worker program, which would provide legal status for undocumented laborers. Seventy percent said they believed that illegal immigrants are generally doing jobs others don't want.

Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said Thursday's poll results reflect the increasing population of noncitizens in the state.

"The demographics of California now are very different than the demographics of California 20 years ago," DiCamillo said. California's improving economy and low unemployment also were factors in the survey results, he said.

According to the poll, public attitudes toward undocumented immigrants obtaining driver's licenses are also changing. Forty-four percent of those surveyed believe illegal immigrants should be able to get licenses, compared to 35% a year ago.

But again, there are stark differences between those who are registered to vote and those who are not. Only 33% of voters support licenses, compared to 61% of nonvoters.

The Real ID act last year required states to replace current driver's licenses with forgery-proof identification cards by 2008, but Congress gave states the option to create distinct licenses for illegal immigrants. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed such a bill last year.

Reshma Shamasunder, director of the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative, said the Field Poll results are encouraging because they show that more Californians understand the contributions of immigrants.

But Barbara Coe, chairwoman of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, said she was skeptical about the results, given the escalating support for civilian border patrols and sanctions for employers who hire illegal workers.

"Am I putting a lot of stock" in the survey? she said. "No, I am not."

The poll was based on a random telephone survey of 500 California adults conducted in both English and Spanish over a two-week period in February, according to the director. The sample included 337 registered voters and 163 who were not registered to vote. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.


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Daydreamer, this is OLD news and MISLEADING news. The population there is so heavily Hispanic and the number of illegal aliens is astronomical. Would you EXPECT the Americans out there can have their voices heard ? Not anymore ! Come on DayDreamer. I think you are day dreaming, FRIEND.

Wake up !! Try a cup of coffee. Oh by the way, I realize you didn't write the article, just posted it. But DayDreamer we already tore that article apart on Saturday !! You should have been here and you could have HELPED US !!

Damnit, I never find the good stories. I had no clue. I only browse for topics on here with interesting titles, otherwise I don't click on them.

Brian is always beating me to the good ones.

Brian is a great American, isn't he DayDreamer ?! He is working so hard for our country. You are right to compliment him.

Anyone heard about a poll that says 95% of illegal aliens in America think they should be able to stay if they want?

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Anyone heard about a poll that says 95% of illegal aliens in America think they should be able to stay if they want?

W

Nope but it's probably just around the corner.

Definately, big props to Brian who beats us all to awesome news stories.