Arizona Voters Still Support Immigration Law, Favor Brewer’s Appeal
Friday, July 30, 2010

The ruling this week by a federal judge to delay implementation of key parts of Arizona’s new immigration law has done nothing to alter public support for the legislation in the state.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Arizona voters, taken after the ruling was issued, finds that 66% still favor the recently passed immigration law. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are opposed. Support for the law is unchanged from when it was first passed in April.

By a 59% to 34% margin, Arizona voters disagree with Judge Susan Bolton's decision to block implementation of some parts of the law.

Not surprisingly, voters favor Governor Jan Brewer’s decision to appeal the ruling by a 59% to 29% margin. Brewer has risen in popularity since signing the law and is now well ahead in the Arizona governor’s race.

Nationally, 59% of voters support passage of a law like Arizona's in their own state, and 50% disagree with the judge's ruling.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Arizona was conducted on July 29, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted byPulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of Arizona voters believe it is possible to end illegal immigration, but 37% disagree.

One finding highlights how little trust the state's voters have in federal immigration enforcement. By a 53% to 40% margin, Arizona voters believe it is better for states to act on their own to enforce immigration laws rather than relying upon the federal government.

Just 44% now are even somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants will violate the civil rights of some U.S. citizens. That's down nine points from just after the law was passed. Fifty-four percent (54%) do not share that concern.

Two-thirds of Arizona voters (65%) would like the government to cut off federal funds for so-called "sanctuary cities." Sixty-one percent (61%) want the Justice Department to take legal action against cities that provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

Seventy-one percent (71%) favor building a fence along the U.S. Mexican border.

Just 28% believe that a child born in the United States to an illegal immigrant should automatically receive U.S. citizenship. That view, too, is unchanged from late last month following news reports that Arizona legislators are considering denying birth certificates to the children of illegal immigrants born in the state.

www.rasmussenreports.com