Thread: Most Arizonans say they'd let illegal immigrants stay

Most Arizonans say they'd let illegal immigrants stay

By HOWARD FISCHER
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX -- Most Arizonans are willing to let those already in the country illegally stay -- if they meet certain conditions -- according to a new survey.

The statewide poll of 386 voters, conducted earlier this month, shows 68 percent of those asked said they would support a provision in the federal immigration bill that provides a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million people in the country who crossed the border illegally.

Another 26 percent were opposed, with the balance undecided.

The survey comes as the U.S. Senate voted to resume debate on the stalled immigration reform proposal. And that measure includes a mechanism for registering those here illegally -- and, if they meet certain conditions -- being able to stay.

But the survey questions are being blasted as biased by Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, who has been at the forefront of state efforts to curb illegal immigration. He also is the architect behind legislation on the desk of Gov. Janet Napolitano to punish companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers, a measure that he believes will dry up jobs and force illegal immigrants to go home.

He said the questions are designed to help "the traitors (Sens. John) McCain and (Jon) Kyl and the rest of them so they can push what they want on the American people." Pearce said he would phrase the question another way.

"Do you believe those who have broken into our country should be given legal status to remain here?" Pearce said is how the query should be phrased. "Do you believe that people should be granted amnesty for breaking our laws?"

But pollster Bruce Merrill said he has asked this type of question many times, with different wording. In fact, Merrill said, he even pretested the latest question using the word "amnesty" in half the queries and "path to citizenship" in the other.

In both cases, Merrill said, the results were virtually identical.

"It doesn't matter in general how I've asked it," he said.

"People know what you're talking about," Merrill continued. "And, in general, they tend to be more liberal or more moderate at least on the issue of what to do with the people who are here."

The question Merrill asked does provide some of the conditions likely to be in the federal legislation: The migrants can have no criminal record. And they would have to register, pay a fine, agree to be fingerprinted and learn English.

The wording of the question aside, Pearce said some people may have said they support the path to citizenship because they believe it will be forced on them anyway by Congress. He said an affirmative response to Merrill's query reflects only that there should be certain conditions.

In a separate question, Merrill found 65 percent of those asked want a guest worker program to give temporary visas to foreigners who want to work here.

Even though the Senate is going to try to tackle the issue again, Arizonans are not optimistic about the outcome. Merrill found that just 26 percent of those asked said they are optimistic Congress will reach a solution that actually will halt -- or at least slow illegal immigration.

The survey, conducted by KAET-TV, the Phoenix PBS affiliate, has a margin of error of 5 percent.

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2...%20page_16.txt

Bull Crap I don't buy it for a minute

A whopping 386 people were polled eh? I guess that means the majority has spoken!
Where did they conduct the polls, off of Buckeye and Central Ave?
Gimmie a break!

The 368 were anchor babies and illegals. No legal immigrant or American other than anchor baby believes illegals should stay.

Most Arizonans say they'd let illegal immigrants stay

out of a statewide poll of 386 voters. That is asinine! Capital Media Services - - journalism at it's finest.

I can imagine how these poll interviews go.

"Hello?"

"Hello, would you give us a few minutes of your time to answer some questions on immigration?"

"Geez, you know Oprah's just about to come on, and my beer's getting warm. What do you want to know?"

"Would you agree that hard-working immigrants, who are doing the jobs that need doing that Americans aren't doing should be allowed the opportunity to become citizens if they meet a strict series of conditions and pay a fine?"

"Huh? What was that? Hey, I thought this was going to be quick. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I guess so, Oprah's coming on right now, gotta go"

Click

How does ‘propaganda’ infiltrate AliPac..?!

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

I can imagine how these poll interviews go.

"Hello?"

"Hello, would you give us a few minutes of your time to answer some questions on immigration?"

"Geez, you know Oprah's just about to come on, and my beer's getting warm. What do you want to know?"

"Would you agree that hard-working immigrants, who are doing the jobs that need doing that Americans aren't doing should be allowed the opportunity to become citizens if they meet a strict series of conditions and pay a fine?"

"Huh? What was that? Hey, I thought this was going to be quick. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I guess so, Oprah's coming on right now, gotta go"

Click

ROFLMAO!!!

Originally Posted by iQuestionEverything

How does ‘propaganda’ infiltrate AliPac..?!

Don't look at it as propaganda but rather "motivation"

So, they asked 368 people here in AZ, hmm? Now, was that 368 they asked as they ran past being chased by Border Patrol, or 368 of us who've been here awhile?

Originally Posted by redbadger

Bull Crap I don't buy it for a minute

my thoughts exactly