Poll: More Americans want Arizona-style anti-illegal immigration law for their state

By Michael Sheridan
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, June 1st 2010, 1:51 PM


Protesters march in front of the Arizona House building, but a new poll suggests more Americans may actually want a law similar to Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law in their own state.

The Arizona anti-immigration law has been beset by boycotts and demonstrations, yet a new poll suggests more Americans may want one just like it for their state.

According to a new Quinnipiac University poll, 48% say they want their state to pass an Arizona-style immigration law.

The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"The strong plurality who say they would like a similar law in their own state probably portends the law will be an issue in many, many campaigns this November across the country."

However, according to the same poll, 45% feel that the Arizona law will lead to discrimination against Hispanics.

The issue is clearly divided among gender and race, too, the poll shows.

"Support for the Arizona law and its extension divides along political and racial lines, with much stronger support from men than women," Brown said.

Fifty-three percent of white voters were in favor of the law, while the poll indicated 43% of blacks opposed it, along with 52% of Hispanics.

Men were more supportive of the legislation than women, with 55% of males agreeing with it, while only 42% of women sided with the law.

Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,914 registered voters nationwide for the poll, with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.

msheridan@nydailynews.com

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... _stat.html