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Racism is driving immigration issue, some Mexicans say
Updated: 4/20/2006 4:09:27 PM
By: Associated Press
MEXICO CITY -- Roughly four out of 10 Mexicans believe racism is the reason Americans want to stop migrants from entering their country illegally, according to a poll published Thursday.

According to the survey sponsored by the Mexican newspaper El Universal and The Dallas Morning News, 43 percent of Mexicans attribute efforts to stop illegal migrants to racism.

The poll indicated seven percent of Mexicans believe their countrymen emigrate to the U.S. because of a lack of jobs in Mexico. Seventy-nine percent would be in favor of legalizing millions of undocumented migrants in the U.S.

The poll consisted of interviews with about 1,500 adults in early April. The newspapers say that the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The survey came as U.S. Congress debates several proposals. The proposals range from building a wall along the border and making illegal immigration a felony -- to approving temporary-worker programs and legalizing many of the 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S. About 6 million of those are Mexicans.