Poll highlights public's firm stance
by Gary Levison
published on Wednesday, March 7, 2007

A recent poll shows Arizona voters want strong immigration reform - no matter the consequences.

According to a poll released Feb. 27 by Cronkite/ Eight, a majority of Arizona voters want a state law that would allow state and local police to arrest those who have crossed the border illegally.

Of the 600 registered voters polled via telephone, 65 percent support changing Arizona law so illegal immigrants could be charged with criminal trespass.

Currently, Tempe Police do not arrest illegal immigrants, said Tempe police spokesman Sgt. Mike Horn.

"It's not a question we ask when we come across someone," he said.

If a person was believed to be an illegal immigrant, Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be contacted and Tempe Police would assist in their investigation, Horn added.

Bruce Merrill, who runs the Cronkite/Eight Poll, said "people are really frustrated" with the issue of border control and want action to be taken.

"We've asked several questions about border control issues in the past year to see what people think," Merrill said. "I'm not sure if people really understand the implications of their responses."

Immigration to the U.S. should be done legally, otherwise there should be consequences, said housing and community development junior Megen McAlevey.

"If they're coming here illegally then [arresting them] is OK," she said.

The poll, which had a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percent, also indicated that Arizona voters don't want to punish only illegal immigrants, but their employers, as well.

Fifty-five percent of the registered voters polled said they want legislation that would bring felony charges against employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Polled voters also expressed their dissatisfaction with the treatment of illegal immigrants and their involvement in "serious" crimes.

According to the poll, 51 percent of Arizona voters polled would like to designate illegal immigrants as "domestic terrorists" if they commit serious crimes while in the U.S.

Such a response may be provoked by illegal immigration becoming a tired subject, McAlevey said.

"People are getting frustrated and they are thinking of every possible way to control [illegal immigration]," she said. "Sometimes the measures are extreme and sometimes they are not."

Despite voters' persistence in immigration reform, the poll received varied results to one question regarding illegal immigration.

Voters were asked whether they would support a bill that would prevent state governments from accepting foreign-issued identification cards as proof of identification.

Forty-five percent of the registered voters polled said they would oppose such a bill, 35 percent said they would support it and 20 percent said they had no opinion.

But voters will generally support a bill that addresses illegal immigration no matter what solution it proposes, Merrill said.

"I could write a placebo question about something concerning border control and they would support it," he said. "The public consistently takes a very harsh stand on cracking down on border issues."


Cronkite/Eight Poll Excerpt


How about a bill that would make it a felony for Arizona businesses to employ illegal aliens? Would you support or oppose that bill?

Support: 55 percent

Oppose: 37 percent

No opinion: 8 percent



Would you support or oppose a bill that would prohibit governmental entities in Arizona from accepting I.D. cards issued by foreign governments as proof of identification?

Support: 35 percent

Oppose: 45 percent

No opinion: 20 percent



Would you support or oppose changing state statutes to allow law enforcement officers to charge illegal aliens with criminal trespass?

Support: 65 percent

Oppose: 27 percent

No opinion: 8 percent



*Source: Cronkite/Eight Poll results are based on answers from 600 registered voters between Feb. 22 and Feb. 25. The wording above is exactly as it appeared in the poll's most recent media alert with only slight style changes.



http://www.statepress.com/issues/2007/03/07/news/700185