73% Say Cops Should Check Immigration Status During Traffic Stops

73% Say Cops Should Check Immigration Status During Traffic Stops
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Email to a FriendAdvertisement
Seventy-three percent (73%) of U.S. voters believe that a police officer

should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when the officer pulls that person over for a traffic violation. Only 21% disagree, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of voters also say that if law enforcement officers know of places where immigrants gather to find work, they should sometimes conduct surprise raids to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Twenty-four percent (24%) oppose surprise raids.

But most voters (61%) are at least somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants also will end up violating the civil rights of some U.S. citizens. That figure includes 32% who are very concerned. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are not concerned.

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The findings come after the announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is investigating an Arizona sheriff for using aggressive tactics like these to enforce federal immigration laws. The investigation was sought by Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan and others. They contend that Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County is racially profiling Hispanics in his effort to fight illegal immigration.

Most voters (52%) now are more concerned about drug-related violence spilling over into this country from Mexico than they are about illegal immigration. Forty-one percent (41%) are still more concerned about illegal immigration.

Republicans are more strongly in favor of surprise raids to catch and deport illegal immigrants. Seventy-five percent (75%) of GOP voters support such raids, along with 61% of Democrats and 65% of unaffiliated voters.

Democrats, on the other hand, are far more concerned about possible civil rights violations. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Democrats are at least somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants will cause some U.S. citizens to have their civil rights violated. Just 49% of Republicans share this concern.

Sixty percent (60%) of liberals are very concerned about such violations, compared to 25% of moderates and 22% of conservatives.

Two-thirds of African-Americans (66%) also are very concerned about possible civil rights violations, a view shared by just 26% of whites.Seventy-four percent (74%) of voters do not believe the federal government is doing enough to secure the country’s borders.

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