Thread: Reno Poll

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Poll reveals how we view immigration
Geralda Miller (GMILLER@RGJ.COM)
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
June 1, 2006

Reno resident Bruce Kelley doesn't believe Nevada's economy depends on immigrant workers. The 50-year-old manager of an automotive repair center also said illegal immigrants are a burden on the state's education system and social service programs.

"I think they use more than they contribute," he said.

His opinion echoes the majority of Nevadans who participated in a poll conducted by the Reno Gazette-Journal and KRNV News 4. The Research 2000 Nevada Poll questioned 600 voters by telephone May 12-15, with findings consistent with national polls for public opinion on immigration issues. The poll margin for error is plus or minus 5 percent.

The poll comes as Congress debates immigration issues. Last week, the Senate passed legislation to secure the U.S. borders and allow some illegal immigrants to remain in the country. And in the past months, the issue has drawn thousands of Hispanics to Northern Nevada streets in protest, making for the largest demonstrations in Reno history.

Fifty-seven percent of those polled don't believe the state economy depends on immigrant workers.

While the poll reflects voter sentiment, Ireri Rivas, an organizer for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, said the opinions are not based on fact.

"A lot of our likely voters were not necessarily actively informed on the issues of immigration in Nevada," Rivas said. "We can say that our economy is complimented by immigrants to Nevada. They make up about a fourth of our gross state product, $20 million."

The alliance is nonprofit, trying to create progressive state policies through research, public education and leadership development. The agency issued a 2004 report on the economic contribution of immigrant Hispanics to Nevada.

Northern Nevadans' opinions vary on immigration -- and not everyone agrees with Kelley and those polled.

"I think legal and illegal immigrants feed our economy," said Martina Davis of Reno.

Kevin Porter, of Reno, said he sees worth in immigrants.

"I think they do more to help than to hurt our economy," he said. "I think that people who want to come here and work add more value than they take away."

But James Walker of Sparks disagrees. He said illegal immigrants are costing the country "millions" and questioned the legislation passed by the Senate.

"There are not going to be any good things in the bill that says it's good for our country," Walker said. "It's going to be good for those who want another poor class in the country."

Fifty-nine percent of respondents said illegal immigrants are a burden on Nevada's education system and social service programs.

Rivas said undocumented immigrants cannot take part in or benefit from social entitlement programs.

"They do not qualify for Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance, Medicare, Social Security or public housing," she said.

Everyone qualifies for emergency health services and education.

Washoe County schools Superintendent Paul Dugan said he is relieved the district does not have "to be the gatekeeper and determine whether someone should get an education or not."

"Once someone enters our system, they're not a burden, no matter what their situation," Dugan said. "We have a duty to educate whoever is in our system, whatever positive or negative traits they bring with them."

An English as a Second Language program would be needed in the school district no matter what, he said.

"We have students coming from all over who need English as a second language," he said.

Most Nevada voters polled, 57 percent, said illegal immigrants should be allowed to remain in the Untied States if they have worked here for six years after paying fines, passing background checks, paying back-taxes for wages and learning English.

Porter said to just invite them.

"I think they should be admitted freely," he said.

Jay Descallar, a Reno resident whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, also said he is against deportation.

"Give them a chance," he said.

Almost two-thirds of those polled said employers should be held responsible for hiring illegal immigrants.

Kelley said there must be "a legitimate identification process."

"I'm not a detective," he said. "I have no way of knowing if a green card is valid. The employer should definitely be held responsible, but only if there is a government identification process."

Rivas agreed with the opinion.

"I think they do have to be held responsible," she said. "They should be held up to a standard."

The community has a responsibility to be well-informed on immigration, Rivas said.

"Active participation requires knowledge of the issue at hand," she said. "I want Nevadans to be informed on the issues of immigration and the implication of comprehensive immigration reform. That way a better dialogue can take place."

Poll results:

Nevada’s economy depends on immigrant workers.
Strongly agree 5 percent, agree 27 percent, strongly disagree 24 percent, disagree 33 percent, unsure 11 percent.
Illegal immigrants are a burden on Nevada’s education system and social service programs.
Strongly agree 36, agree 23 percent, disagree 11 percent, strongly disagree 21 percent, unsure 9 percent.
The 12 million illegal immigrants should be deported or allowed to stay if they’ve worked her for six years after paying fines and back taxes for wages, pass background checks and learn English.
Deport 24 percent, allowed to stay 57 percent, unsure 19 percent.
Should employers be held responsible for hiring illegal immigrants?
Yes 63 percent, no 28 percent, unsure 9 percent.

Findings from “The Economic Contribution of Non-Native Hispanics to Nevada” report issued by PLAN in 2004:
o Hispanic immigrants earned $3.455 billion in direct wages.
o Hispanic immigrant workers generated $1.821 billion in federal taxes in 2001 and $1.089 billion in state and local taxes that year.
o Undocumented workers do not qualify for food stamps, supplemental security income or Social Security.

Findings from the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization based in Washington, D.C.:
o A significant majority of Americans see illegal immigration as a very serious problem and most others see it at least as a serious problem.
o Most Americans believe that illegal immigrants are taking jobs Americans do not want.
o Most Americans appear to favor measures that would allow illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. to remain in the country either as permanent residents and eventual citizens or as temporary workers who will have to go home eventually.
Source: The State of American Public Opinion on Immigration in Spring 2006: A review of Major Surveys.

The U.S. Senate voted 62-36 last week on legislation that says:
o Those in the country unlawfully for five years or more could remain and eventually apply for citizenship.
o Illegal immigrants would be required to pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle any back taxes and learn English.
o Those in the country unlawfully for more than two years but less than five would be required to travel to a point of entry before re-entering the United States legally and beginning a long process of seeking citizenship. They would be subject to the same fines, fees and other requirements as the longer-term immigrants.
o An immigrant in the country illegally for less than two years would be required to leave with no guarantee of return.
o Issuance of 200,000 new temporary “guest worker” visas a year.

The House bill passed in December has no path to legal residency or citizenship for illegal immigrants or temporary guest worker program. The bill says:
o Illegal presence in the country would be a felony and increases penalties for first-time illegal entry to the United States.
o It would be a felony to assist, encourage, direct or induce a person to enter or attempt to enter or remain in the United States illegally.
o Beginning in six years, all employers would have to use a database to verify Social Security numbers of all employees.
o Maximum fines for employers of illegal workers would increase from current $10,000 to $40,000 per violation and establishes prison sentences of up to 30 years for repeat offenders.
Source: Associated Press

My daughter lived in Las Vegas for about a year.

When I would discuss the illegal problem, and talk about how many worked in LV. She would say she didn't believe that was true. She said I don't see any.

One day we needed to go to a particular store to get an item and it was located in a mall across town. We reached the area about school closing time. We sat at a school crossing for at least 10 minutes while scads of Mexican children crossed from the school.

She then allowed as to how, there might be more in LV than she knew about.