Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
High Support for Immigration Crackdown in U.S.
December 17, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States support enacting punitive measures in order to curb illegal immigration, according to a poll by YouGov/Polimetrix released by The Economist. At least 75 per cent of respondents would increase fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants, require police to report illegal immigrants to federal government, and make it a crime to hire illegal immigrants.

In addition, 67 per cent of respondents would use the National Guard to patrol the Mexican Border, and 57 per cent would build more border fences. Support is lower for forbidding illegal immigrants from sending their children to school, and requiring churches to report illegal immigrants.

In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.

In May 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate discussed and rejected a revised immigration bill, which would have allowed illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa." After paying fees, a $5,000 U.S. fine and then returning to their home countries, they could apply for permanent residency, which could be granted in eight to 13 years. The bill also included a proposal to introduce a points system that would prioritize access to the U.S. for skilled and educated immigrants, as well as new family-reunification guidelines.

Earlier this month, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, launched a television ad, which discusses immigration policies. In the spot, Giuliani declares: "People are frustrated over immigration because the government has been talking about solving this for 20 or 25 years, and it’s just gotten worse. What we need here is leadership. Build a fence. Train the border patrol. Have a BorderStat system. Have a tamper-proof ID card. And then if you become a citizen, you have to be able to read English, write English, speak English, and understand American civics."

Polling Data

Here are some policies which have been proposed to deal with illegal immigration. Which do you support?

Support
Oppose
Not sure

Increasing fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants
81%
11%
8%

Require police to report illegal immigrants to federal government
77%
14%
10%

Making it a crime to hire illegal immigrants
75%
15%
10%

Using the National Guard to patrol the Mexican Border
67%
20%
13%

Building more border fences
57%
27%
16%

Not allowing illegal immigrants to send their children to school
43%
39%
17%

Require churches to report illegal immigrants
35%
48%
17%

Source: YouGov/Polimetrix / The Economist
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29 ... down_in_us