Political Eye
© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Poll: Most support letting working illegal immigrants stay in U.S.
As a bipartisan group of senators announced an agreement on immigration reform today, most Americans think illegal immigrants currently working in the United States should be allowed to stay either as guest workers or with the opportunity to become U.S. citizens.
Pie Chart January 28th
/ CBSA slim majority - 51 percent - thinks illegal immigrants working in the U.S. should be able to stay and apply for citizenship; another 20 percent say they should stay but only as guest workers. A quarter of Americans think illegal immigrants now working here should be required to leave the country.
Nearly two in three Democrats support giving illegal immigrants the chance to stay and apply for citizenship, compared to a third of Republicans who back that approach. A majority of non-whites (67 percent) back citizenship for illegal immigrants working in the U.S., while fewer than half of whites (46 percent) support that. Younger Americans are also more likely than those who are older to think illegal immigrants working in the U.S. should be allowed to apply for citizenship.
The percentage of Americans overall who would like to see illegal immigrants stay in the U.S. with the opportunity to become citizens is similar to what it was last fall, but it has risen 14 points since September 2011. Back then, 38 percent said illegal immigrants working in the U.S. should be required to leave the country.
Support for giving illegal immigrants the opportunity to become citizens has risen among many demographic groups since 2011, even across party lines. Among Democrats, support has gone up 15 points since September 2011. Republican support has risen from 24 percent to 35 percent now.
For full poll results, see next page
This poll was conducted by telephone from January 24-27, 2013 among 1,052 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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Those who are here illegally should be given the choice of returning home immediately and applying for visas/legal immigration status OR applying for a limited guest worker visa.
The above assumes that any real fix to our system MUST first fix the problems that got us into this mess. 1) Streamline and speed up the visa application process (Including a real background check) 2) Actually secure and enforce our immigration laws and in the process stop 'catch and release' policies currently imposed.
By forcing illegal immigrants to chose either a guest worker visa or return and apply process we could weed out those who are serious about applying for citizenship.
Of course any gang connections for any member of a family should result in the deportation of that family.
Bottom line is fairness to those who want to immigrate to this country permanently and are willing to abide by our laws.
Finally - Actual Assimilation into our society and culture is a reasonable expectation of anyone who really wants to become a citizen. In other countries (e.g. France & the UK) the failure to assimilate has caused huge problems and indications here show a similar result in the Hispanic population. Hopefully with a revision of our immigration laws there would much less need for 'hiding' from authorities and more openness to adoption of our culture instead of attempting to force upon us their culture.
I know this last comment will draw blasts from the bleeding heart liberals who have no pride in this country, but then were they to immigrate to any number of other countries those same liberals would be force to adopt that countries culture or get booted.
Last thing that must be emphasized. When it comes to the illegals demanding higher pay and benefits. This countries minimum wage law is like three times what these guys running their leaf blower at 7:00am on the weekends. Everything it terms of cost of living will increase. This countries doomed, were doomed unless we deny this opportunity. I make $75k annually and have a respectable two kids. Where will they buy a home? What opportunity will they get? The money I make barely gets me by living in OC. think about it....
Immigrants and the children they bear account for 60 percent of our nation's population growth and are 60 percent more likely to start a new business than native-born Americans. It identifies the multitude of "foreigners" who became successful in the US and contributed to our society. However, most struggle in their efforts and need guidance. Perhaps intelligent immigration reform, White House-Congress cooperation, concerned citizens and books like this can extend a helping hand to those in need.
Here's a closing quote from the book's Intro: "With all of our cultural differences though, you'll be surprised to learn how much our countries—and we as human beings—have in common on this little third rock from the sun. After all, the song played at our Disneyland parks around the world is 'It's A Small World After All.' Peace." www.AmericaAtoZ.com
Their noise machine masters have them right where they want them.
The republican politicians have em all ginned up against the Mexicans (wink wink)to get the right wing sucker vote.
while the republican employers are taking full financial advantage.
If all you mental midget suckers want to get rid of illegals...put the folks that hire them in jail, watch their jobs dry up and watch the illegals go back home.
When you look at illegal immigration, it appears people don't understand the difference between "legal" and "illegal" immigrants or try to attribute the recognition of that difference to racism to hide the distinction between the two or silence anyone who mentions it.
The GOP problem is that "legal" hispanic voters traditionally do not vote republican. The current crop of GOP leaders think that giving 11 million or so "illegal aliens" a reward by giving them a pass on their crime will endear the republican party to hispanic voters. Anyone with common sense knows that won't help as the illegals have been groomed for decades by the Democratic party and will vote for ....democrats. I'm a little surprised the GOP membership is so politically stupid they don't already know that will happen but then again, they have evolved into the party of complete political stupidity.
The problem I have with this entire scenario is that it's just wrong to do it for any reason. People that follow the legal process fine, those that don't (or didn't) go home and make your country of origin a better place or get in line with the rest of the people who did follow the legal process. People try to make this about racism but in reality it's about right and wrong (legal vs illegal activities). The republicans have fallen for that hook line and sinker.
If this (amnesty for illegal aliens) proceeds, the Republicans will have enabled the Democrats to harvest a complete new wave of democrat voters and in doing so have ensured that the GOP as a party ceases to exist as a viable alternative political party in this country. Adios amigos!
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and if they were legal they'd no doubt have other job opportunities that pay more ... which would likely put them on the tax roles w/ higher incomes ... create higher demand for the lower wage jobs they vacate ... and likely push average wages up across the board.
The de-evolution of USA started with the Reagan amnesty (which was a big mistake). Illegal is illegal and our political leadership continues to enable it thus pushing our country towards the brink of becoming a watered down version of its former self. When Chicago has the crime levels of a border town along with the massive gang violence, shootings, beheadings, hit squads, cartels, etc, maybe people will wake up. Ooops..Chicago (and many US cities) are already there.