CBS Poll: Most Support Immigration Reform

(CBS)  The Senate has departed Washington for a Memorial Day weekend break, leaving on the table an immigration reform bill that would make extensive changes to the current immigration system, including legalizing millions of illegal immigrants. The legislators will be going home to an electorate that, by and large, is supportive of the bill — regardless of political leaning.

A new CBS News/New York Times Poll finds most Americans surveyed support measures contained in the bill, including a guest worker program and the possibility of permanent residency for illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the U.S. About half support changing the immigration system to give priority to immigrants based on background rather than family ties.

Unlike other issues (like the war in Iraq) which typically have reflected partisan polarization, support from the public for these reforms is, for the most part, bipartisan.

Views Of Illegal Immigration

Most Americans are highly critical of current U.S. immigration policy, especially when it comes to illegal immigration. Half thinks that current immigration policy has so much wrong with it that it needs to be completely rebuilt. Almost as many see it as needing fundamental changes; few think just minor changes are needed.

U.S. Immigration Policy Needs:

… To Be Completely Rebuilt
49%
… Fundamental Changes
41%
… Minor Changes
8%

Illegal immigration is a particular concern; 61% think it is a very serious problem, and another 30% think it is somewhat serious. Concern about the issue has risen in the past few months, from 56% in January.

In part, this may be because so many see illegal immigration as widespread. The majority of Americans ¬— three in four — believe that most of the people who have come to the United States in the last few years are in the country illegally. Just 16% think most are here legally.

Americans have a positive impression of immigrants generally. When asked without reference to immigrants' legality, majorities of Americans say immigrants contribute to this country and work as hard, or harder, than people born here.

However, illegal immigrants are viewed particularly negatively: 70% think they weaken the economy because they use public services but don't all pay taxes; 45% think that terrorism against the U.S. has increased as a result of illegal immigration.

Americans point to the government as not addressing that issue adequately. More then four in five — 82% — think the U.S. could be doing more along its borders to keep illegal immigrants from crossing over into the U.S.; just 14% think the U.S. is now doing all it can.

Is The U.S. Doing All That Can Be Expected To Keep Illegal Immigrants Out?

Yes
14%
No
82%

When asked to volunteer the most important problem facing the country today, immigration ties for third place, along with gas prices. (The war in Iraq tops the list by a wide margin.)

The Most Important Problem Facing The U.S. Today:

War In Iraq
31%
Economy and Jobs
8%
Gas/Heating Oil Crisis
7%
Immigration
7%
Health Care
5%

Nearly four in five Americans have heard or read at least some about changing U.S. immigration laws, including 26% who have heard or read a lot.

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[proenglishusa]

Aside from the massive problems with immigration and the extreme need for reform, the other pressing issue for us as a country is the ambivalence of the federal and state governments to be gun-shy about making English our official language. I am not talking about making it our common language or making it appealing when it benefits a group of people. I am surely not talking about invoking political correctness to not offend a group of people.

Our heritage, our history and the blood shed by countless Americans to give us liberty, freedom and the right to vote is a sacred American treasure.

Allowing people to vote, to get a driver's license and to conduct official government business in a language other than English is wrong and un-American.

I am proud to say that I am an immigrant who came to the US at the age of four and my parents had the fortitude and foresight to know that among the many things we needed to do to become full-fledged Americans, was to learn English.

Visit my Blog at www.proenglishusa.blogspot.com to join and learn how you can get involved in making English our official language.

Eddie V Garcia

[standlee5]

I think this story proves how important the internet is to our freedom. The media cannot be trusted to report fairly, the politicians are all corrupt and couldn't care less what the people think, and religion also has an agenda. The only real tool we have is the internet and you stillhave to be careful for disinformation. We have to stick together and make our thoughts known and if it takes writing every day to media, senators, local politicians. That's what we'll have to do.

[klingon69]

and no laws against giving these people housing, utilities, bank accounts, and other means of earning a living here, including business and driver's licenses, or car ownership.
Posted by Frankinaz at 01:13 PM : May 27, 2007

The city of Farmers Branch recently passed legislation that was overwhelmingly approved by the voting citizenry. That penalized landlords/owners/managers that rented to illegal aliens. Some idiot fed judge blocked the injunction saying that the city had not right to dabble in immigration affairs, that was their baliwick.

[lostcountry1]

wow, i suggest everyone go to www.lframerica.com as that is where the real debate is regarding illegal immigration.i just tried to forward an e-mail to my elected offifials about the traitorous kennedy amnesty bill but they are blocking the site, what a bunch of cowards. i'll remember this come november thats for sure.

[lostcountry1]

speakengl at, thanks for the links. i appreciate the info. i will go there and see if i can help. also knightwolf, good suggestion about the buisiness's being squeezed for deportation costs. you are right that it is they who fuel the illegal problem.i believe that pressure needs to be put on the mexican government also, for it is they who promote the illegals to come here. i understand life is hard for them down there, but they need to stand up to their crooked government instead of running away to america.not much pride in running away.

[knyghtwolf]

and an added note; pass the cost of removing illegals from OUR country to businesses that hire these illegals, that should show the board of directors what profit and loss really means. This is where you get the money, not from honest, hard working AMERICAN'S.

[knyghtwolf]

I have been keeping track of all the people I asked about Immigrant Reform, just a little over 700 people I would ask at random; every single one of them wanted ALL the illegals sent back to their own country AND the businesses that hired them to be fined heavily and to be prosecuted in some form or fashion of asset forfiture that would make it very difficult for them to even want to try it again. Sounds good so far, the real criminals here are the businesses that bring them here, hire them and work them to death to show a better profit margin at the board of directors.

[speakengl]

lostcountry1: If you want blogs discussing illegal immigration and a variety of other subjects, go to firesociety. Lots of discussion there and sharing of information on what we can do to fight this thing. Also go to www.lframerica.com and check out the info on the March for America June 16th.

[bellal-2009]

The only exception to this is the war veterans.
Posted by fematrailers at 01:09 PM : May 27, 2007


I hear you, fematrailers, thank god for our war vets, they're about the only ones I trust anymore.

[bellal-2009]

Last night on DSCHD they had a show called Risk Takers and it profiled the border patrol in Az. OMG these agents risk their lives to protect the border and also to protect the illegal border crossers who attempt to cross the Az desert sure to perish if not for the border patrol catching them. Any business who hires illegals are supporting this situation. They are they ones responsible when border patrol agents are killed in the line of duty and they are the ones responsible when the illegals perish in the desert. This government is not prosecuting these business owners so are contributing to the danger our border patrol agensts face.