Thread: Poll Shows Most in U.S. Want Overhaul of Immigration Laws

Poll Shows Most in U.S. Want Overhaul of Immigration Laws

By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD and MEGAN THEE-BRENAN
Published: May 3, 2010

LOS ANGELES — The overwhelming majority of Americans think that the country’s immigration policies need to be seriously overhauled. And despite protests against Arizona’s stringent new immigration enforcement law, a slim majority of Americans support it, even though they say it may lead to racial profiling.

These are the findings of the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

With the signing of the Arizona on April 23 and reports of renewed efforts in Washington to rethink immigration, there has been an uptick in the number of Americans who describe illegal immigration as a serious problem.

But the poll — conducted April 28 through May 2 with 1,079 adults, and with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all adults — suggests Americans remain deeply conflicted about what to do.

The public broadly agrees, across party lines, that the United States could be doing more along its border to keep illegal immigrants out: 78 percent of respondents.

That unity, however, fractures on the question of what to do with illegal immigrants already here and the role of states in enforcing immigration law, normally a federal responsibility.

A majority of Americans, 57 percent, say the federal government should determine laws addressing illegal immigration. But 51 percent said the Arizona law is about right in tackling the problem, though 36 percent said it goes too far and 9 percent said it didn’t go far enough in tackling the problem.

The law has recharged the national debate over securing the border and what to do about the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country.

The Arizona law gives local police broad power to detain and check the legal status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. Lawsuits have already been filed on several grounds, including that it will lead to racial profiling of legal residents and that the state has unconstitutionally intruded on federal authority.

Under a torrent of criticism, the Arizona legislature and governor made changes to the law Friday that they say explicitly bar the police from racial profiling and allow officers to inquire about immigration status only of people they stop, detain or arrest in enforcing existing state law. But it also now includes civil violations of municipal codes as grounds to check papers and opponents were not mollified by the changes.

In follow-up interviews, poll respondents who embraced the thrust of the Arizona law still called for a national solution.

“The Arizona law is fine, but the federal government has to step in and come up with something and they’re not doing it,â€

The overwhelming majority of Americans think that the country’s immigration policies need to be seriously overhauled. And despite protests against Arizona’s stringent new immigration enforcement law, a slim majority of Americans support it, even though they say it may lead to racial profiling.

Huh? Perhaps we should try again like in 1986? Enforce the laws on the books!

Slim majority support it? Really? And that same "slim" majority believes it may lead to "racial profiling?" What a bunch of racist and bigots that "slim" majority must be!

and,

A majority of Americans, 57 percent, say the federal government should determine laws addressing illegal immigration. But 51 percent said the Arizona law is about right in tackling the problem, though 36 percent said it goes too far and 9 percent said it didn’t go far enough in tackling the problem.

More gibberish running to the feds for answers. Trust your federal government.............again. Perhaps someone should whisper to the authors that there are these other entities out here called states. Do states have rights? Or is it just the mighty feds that Americans should trust on this issue? Arizona ring any bells?

and,

The Arizona law gives local police broad power to detain and check the legal status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. Lawsuits have already been filed on several grounds, including that it will lead to racial profiling of legal residents and that the state has unconstitutionally intruded on federal authority.

How broad? And lawsuits have already been filed before the racial profiling party can get underway? And that is directly linked to the constitutionality of the Arizona law? Imagine that? Seems a bit misleading? Just a bit?

and,

Nearly nine in ten of those surveyed agree that immigration policy in the country needs to be seriously reworked,

No thanks! Enforce the laws on the books. Been there,.done that. 1986 ring any bells? Enforcement "SERIOUSLY" needs to be put into motion!

and,

Just 8 percent of Americans said the immigration system needs only minor changes. The vast majority say it needs reworking, including 44 percent who believe it needs to be completely rebuilt, and 45 percent who say it needs fundamental changes

Once again, enforce the laws, quit repeating the rhetoric and trying to convince people that a new set of laws will be different this time, and that a majority of people agree with your assessment of reworking the system.

What a bunch of toilet paper! Wish I could print this one..............on two-ply.