Thread: Poll: Hard divisions on immigrants

Poll: Hard divisions on immigrants

America is a country divided about those working illegally within its borders, with a majority believing that immigration has a negative effect in the U.S., according to a new national poll.

The survey, by Vision Critical and Angus Reid Public Opinion, found 56 percent of a belief that illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans, while only 34 percent answered that the immigrants take jobs that American workers do not want.

"All things considered, do you think immigration is having a positive effect or a negative effect in the U.S.?" the poll asked.

Just 18 percent said a positive effect - 8 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of Independents and 28 percent of Democrats. Fifty-seven percent answered a negative effect. A full 25 percent were unsure.

The poll found, however, that the attitudes of respondents "have softened" since hot debate last summer over Arizona's immigration law.

A key question asked which statements on illegal immigrants, currently working in the United States, came closest to the views of those being polled.

Thirty-one percent agreed with the statement: "They should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship." A yawning partisan divide was evident: 48 percent of Democrats agreed with the statement, 31 percent of Independents, but just 13 percent of Republicans.

An additional 15 percent concurred with the option: "They should be allowed to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis, but they should not become citizens."

The largest number of those polled, 43 percent, want illegal immigrants gone, agreeing to the statement: "They should be required to leave their jobs and be deported from the U.S."

The pro-deportation statement drew agreement from 61 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of Independents, and 30 percent of Democrats.

Another 11 percent were unsure.

But pro-deportation opinion has lost support, falling from 50 percent in July to 43 percent in December.

"Two in five Americans (39 percent) think the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in the U.S. should decrease, while only 15 percent favor an increase," the pollster reported.

Provisions of the Arizona law continue to enjoy wide public support.

Sixty-five percent agreed with requiring state and local police to determine the status of a person if there is "reasonable suspicion" that he or she is illegally in the United States.

Seventy-two percent would make it a crime to transport someone who is an illegal immigrant: By a 56 percent-to-33 percent margin, those surveyed would make it a crime to hire day laborers off the street.

The survey of 1005 American adults was taken Dec. 16 and 17, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepoliti ... blog_last3

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