Poll Taken by TIME Magazine
A national poll of 1,004 adults, conducted March 29-30, 2006
More Border Security and More Legality
Americans want both enhanced border security, workplace and employer enforcement, and less illegality, and they simultaneously want more legality in the immigration system.
- About 8-in-10 (79%) favor allowing illegal immigrants to register as "guest-workers."
- About 8-in-10 (78%) favor allowing illegal immigrants in the U.S. citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes.
- About 8-in-10 (82%) say the U.S. is not doing enough to keep "illegals," from entering the country.
- About 7-in-10 (71%) favor providing and enforcing penalties for employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants.
- A majority (62%) favor stopping illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. "by whatever steps necessary."
- A minority (47%) support deporting all illegal immigrants.
Washington Post/ABC
A poll of 1,007 adult Americans, conducted December 15-18, 2005.
"Do you think illegal immigrants who are living and working in the United States now should be offered a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status, or do you think they should be deported back to their native country?" Sixty-one percent said undocumented immigrants should be able to keep their jobs and apply for legal status, compared to 36% who thought they should be deported.
This strong support for a new approach to immigration reform held up across the board. Men, women, Whites, Blacks, older, younger, educated, and less educated adults all seem to agree that deportation is not the solution to the vexing issue of what to do with undocumented immigrants.
Despite the strong statements of some House Republicans and others that the country and the GOP are united against Bush's proposed immigration policies, the poll shows a more even split among Republicans, with 55% supporting undocumented immigrants being able to keep their jobs and apply for legal status and 43% supporting deportation.
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It is usually true that those who scream in hatred the loudest, scream in hatred last.
WE are the majority, WE are America, WE are diverse, WE are educated, WE value humane solutions to immigration.
Enough Said.
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Comments: 17
Honestly to get a more clear picture we may want to look at polls done after the May 1 marches, this is what seem to have brought all of this to a head!
Those of us on Gather who look at this issue from within, considering the people involved, have to wonder how many of YOU are capable of "gang" activity and hate crimes.
The numbers are on the wall, guys. Discounting them on Gather changes nothing.
As much as I wish people like Ann Coulter would just SHUT UP, she has a right to say what she wants, up to the point of slandering people. That woman could really use a sandwich.
And all liberals want is for people to be treated like human beings, whether they're here legally or illegally. It's the Conservative types who are using undocumented workers to destabilize American labor. Keep in mind that, rather than hiring locals to rebuild the Big Easy, the big corps are bringing in undocumented labor so they can avoid paying reasonable wages to actual American citizens.
Greed is NOT our friend.
And for this, we are greeted by those who consider being 'liberal' something nasty with things like lets build a fence, hire a new army and KILL KILL KILL. Somehow, their waving flags and thumping bibles doesn't quite make up the difference in decency, or make me the least bit sorry I am a liberal.
"Hey, Larry... Maybe you should stop and review the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech to determine exactly what people have the right to do. Oh, yeah, speak their mind, even if you don't agree with them."
Any liberal that would quote the 1st Amendment so recently after Bill Clinton and all his lefty pals threatened and browbeat ABC over their 9/11 movie is the laughable. The hypocrisy of the left wing is disgusting.
And WHAT about all the conservatives indirectly linked to Hispanic labor? Oh, I get it...."They didn't know they were illegal..."
That may work elsewhere but on Gather.com the majority are college educated or career blue-collar and white collar. We know immigrants, we know people who speak with an accent and you know what - we don't feel the least bit threatened by their presence - on our jobs, within our friendship circles, at church or in the grocery store.
Sigh.....America won't become your xenophobic haven of cultural ignorance. You are having your day and as those elected continue to bury themselves beneath tons of rhetoric and lip-service legislature, we will wait patiently for the day they will be defeated and sanity returns.
I have seen the Amish, time after time after time, sell produce, baked goods, eggs, fruits and vegetables, baskets, quilts, furniture, all kinds of things that they grow or make, and not once have I seen them cheat anyone.
Their children are respectful and are absolutely thrilled if you bring them something, and it doesn't matter if it is new or from a garage sale, and they don't care about name brands. The very idea that yu thought enough of them to bring them something is enough and they are appreciative.
Immigrant children are much like this. Shy, very polite, quiet in the presence of adults. They would never consider throwing a temper fit in a store because they couldn't have something.
Their parents are, for the most part, quiet, hard working, and some of the most loving people I've ever seen toward their children.
There are exceptions, of course. There are to any situation. But my point is that, once they are no longer an anonymous face, it's very difficult to hate them. In fact, it's almost impossible.
I have to wonder how many of the people here who can, in the relative anonymity of the internet, spew so much hate sustain it when they are looking at a little child, regardless of where he or his parents are from or how they got here. How many could look that child in the eye and tell him that he has no right to regular meals and clothing, perhaps an education. I can't.
Friday, May 19, 2006
By Dana Blanton
* E-MAIL STORY
* PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
NEW YORK — By a two-to-one margin Americans favor using National Guard troops temporarily to help border patrol agents on the Mexican border, a proposal President Bush made in his immigration speech to the nation Monday night.
In addition, a clear majority says they would support increasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country if illegal entry could be stopped, according to this week's FOX News national poll.
Almost all Americans view illegal immigration as a serious problem for the country today.
The new poll finds that the public favors using National Guard troops temporarily to help border patrol agents along the Mexican border:
63 percent favor the proposal and 31 percent oppose.
While there are significant partisan differences, majorities of Republicans (78 percent), independents (58 percent) and Democrats (52 percent) favor using the National Guard for this purpose. Among people who watched President Bush's televised speech, 67 percent favor.
Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News on May 16-18. The margin of error is plus- or minus-3 percent.
President Bush gave an Oval Office address to the nation about immigration and border security on Monday, May 15.
Looking at other proposals being discussed, majorities of Americans favor increasing the number of federal agents patrolling the border in general (79 percent), allowing illegal immigrants who have jobs to apply for legal, temporary-worker status (63 percent) and deporting as many illegals as possible (55 percent).
These results are essentially unchanged from polling conducted last month.
"While the president has seen some criticism from both sides of the immigration debate, his approach appears to hit a balance that most Americans approve," comments Opinion Dynamics Chairman John Gorman. "The problem for the administration is that a moderate, balanced approach may be hard to sell in Washington, where partisan polarization is more fashionable."
If illegal immigration could be stopped, Americans would be willing to increase legal immigration.
Two-thirds (66 percent) say they would favor increasing legal immigration if illegal entry could be stopped -- three times as many as would still oppose increasing the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country (22 percent).
More than eight in 10 Americans think illegal immigration is a serious problem for the country today, almost the same number as said so this time last year.
Over half (57 percent) see illegal immigration as a "very" serious problem and another 29 percent "somewhat" serious.
On a different measure of importance, the public is a bit more divided.
Just over half (52 percent) say they would be willing to pay $100 dollars more in taxes for border security, while a sizable minority says they wouldn't (43 percent).
Few people think Congress is doing a good job handling the issue of immigration.
More than twice as many say Republicans are not doing enough (28 percent) as say Democrats are blocking action on the issue (11 percent), with 13 percent saying Congress is doing a good job.
Most people think the United States has the right to decide who can move to this country and when they can move here (90 percent).
Finally, how does the public view the "Minutemen," the organization whose members patrol the Mexican border looking for illegal crossers?
More people see them as concerned citizens doing a job the government is not doing (46 percent) than see them as "vigilantes" who should leave patrolling to professional law enforcement (34 percent).
One in five haven't heard of the Minutemen or are unsure.
TAKE A LOOK!
http://www.pollingreport.com/immigration.htm
Some of the questions asked:
"Do you think illegal immigrants coming to this country today take jobs away from American citizens, or do they mostly take jobs Americans don't want?"
"Some people favor building a 700-mile-long fence along the U.S.-Mexico border because they say it would stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border into the U.S. Other people oppose the 700-mile-long fence because they say it would cost too much money and people would still find a way to get around it. What do you think? Do you favor or oppose building a 700-mile-long fence along the U.S.-Mexico border?"
"Should legal immigration into the United States be kept at its present level, increased, or decreased?"
"Which political party -- the Democrats or the Republicans -- do you trust to do a better job handling immigration issues?"
"Creating a program that would allow illegal immigrants already living in the United States for a number of years to stay in this country and apply for U.S. citizenship if they had a job and paid back taxes"
.
"Would you favor or oppose a new program allowing foreign workers to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis and then return to their home country?"
"Would you favor or oppose allowing illegal immigrants who have done the following to stay and work in the United States: paid a fine, been in the U.S. for at least five years, paid any back taxes they owe, can speak English, and have no criminal record?"
Gee thanks, Eamon! I would have never continued looking if not for your post!
Answers to your questions:
1. Yes. They don't just work in the Agri business anymore. I'm a building Contractor in South FL and have seen it firsthand. They have definitely depressed wages in the trades, particularly drywall and roofing.
2. 700 miles is a start. They need one from Brownsville TX to San Diego.
3. Increased as long as it is LEGAL and the provisions set forth in the laws are followed for both the immigrants and the employers. (I'll bet that answer suprised you)
4. Probably the Republicans....they're both full of shit though. I'm registered Independent.
5. In favor. Five years or more with proof, background checks, back taxes and fines paid if applicable.
6. Favor. With the proper controls a system like that could probably work. Some will abuse it though.
7. See #5.
There you go. You are the first person from the pro-illegal side to ask questions of me instead of berating my opinions (i.e. Senobia). This issue is so divisive it will require compromises from both side. The problem I have with the Pro side is it seems to be all or nothing and if someones opinion doesn't fall into their agenda you are labeled a racist.
I have a question for you. Where does it stop. What is and acceptable number of the Mexican and Central American poor population this country is expected to assume responsibilty for. The estimates now state that there are 10 - 12 million illegals here and some numbers put it as high as 20 million. The projections until 2025 look even worse. AGAIN, WHERE DOES IT STOP!!! The U.S. cannot afford nor will it stand for this unregulated assault on our borders. Remeber from my post above:
"Most people think the United States has the right to decide who can move to this country and when they can move here (90 percent)."
Sigh....Eamon - I want to be safe. I want my children and grandchildren to be safe.
I truly believe this can be accomplished if our politicians would STOP putting their next election in front of the needs of this nation. Yeah, I know - won't happen.
You are right that it is our perogative to decide who and when and even where. We were wrong to ignore the presence of millions and now we have to fix it. I'm all for fixing it - I'm not for an amnesty - I'm for a country who steadfastly protects its borders. I'm for a system of knowing who is here, where they live and strict regulations about how they act.
I'm for pressuring the ultra- corrupt Mexican government to create jobs and further educational opportunities for its poor. I'm for demanding the same agreement of Mexico that we give to their citizens here - or no deal.
We can go into other South American countries and pull workers. We don't have to have everyone from Mexico. It's nice, it's convenient - but it's time we demonstrated the same strength of conviction with Mexico that we demonstrated with the U.N. when we dove into Iraq.
None of the above means that we create more racism. None of the above means that we separate families. None of the above means that we offer citizenship to anyone.
More than anything it's acceptance - of what we did as a government and what they did as immigrants. Then it's finding a just solution without persecution.