Not that polls are worth much, but a new one by Zogby shows that when the illegal immigration issue is stripped of loaded code words (such as "illegal immigrant" and "amnesty") the vast majority of the American public prefers the strict enforcement approach of the House of Representatives over those offered by the Senate or the President.
A new Zogby poll of likely voters, using neutral language (see wording on following pages), finds that Americans prefer the House of Representatives’ enforcement-only bill by 2-1 over Senate proposals to legalize illegal immigrants and greatly increase legal immigration. The poll was conducted for the Center for Immigration Studies.* On immigration generally, Americans want less, not more, immigration. Only 26 percent said immigrants were assimilating fine and that immigration should continue at current levels, compared to 67 percent who said immigration should be reduced so we can assimilate those already here.
* While the Senate is considering various bills that would increase legal immigration from 1 million to 2 million a year, 2 percent of Americans believe current immigration is too low. This was true for virtually every grouping in the survey by ethnicity, income, age, religion, region, party, or ideology thought immigration was too low.
* When offered by itself, there is strong support for the House bill: 69 percent said it was a good or very good idea when told it tries to make illegals go home by fortifying the border, forcing employer verification, and encouraging greater cooperation with local law enforcement while not increasing legal immigration; 27 percent said it was a bad or very bad idea.
Immigration is a good thing, but we need to be able to control it. A country needs immigrants like a person needs water, but there's a difference between drinking and drowning.
I'm confused. Is the poll about Illegal immigration or just on Immigration, or the normal American ppl don't know the difference?
Andy: I think the point of the poll is that even when talking about immigration as a whole, legal and illegal, most people want to reduce the flow.
That's quite good. Yours?
Overwhelming numbers believe that we need a mechanism for dealing with folks who have been here for a very long time. Even more want increased border security and toughening of work place issues. Easy solution. Do all three.
Then, in the context of a workable policy (unlike what we have now), make more reasoned decisions about how many legal immigrants we need or want.
We may not want more Mideast oil, but we sure would feel the pinch if it slowed or stopped. Same goes for workers.
SteveF: The phrasing is mine, but I'm sure I heard the idea from somewhere else; don't remember where.
Randy: When you say "dealing with folks who have been here for a very long time" do you mean amnesty? The vast majority is against amnesty.
Plus, there's a huge difference between wanting people to come here and work, and wanting people to come here and stay forever.
Claiming that this poll is unbiased is ridiculous and btw, the term "illegal immigrant" is in many of the questions. In the descriptions of the House bill, there is no mention of making illegal immigration and aiding illegal immigrants a felony.
In the description of the Senate bill, there is no mention that only illegal immigrants who have been here 5 years would have a guaranteed path to citizenship. It makes it sound like all of them would get a path to citizenship.