Poll: 63% of Americans favor letting illegal immigrants become citizens if they pass a background check and learn English

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Although the pathway to citizenship was one of the most controversial provisions of the Senate bill, the poll found the idea was backed by 63% of those surveyed — even by 58% of those who identified themselves as conservatives and 65% of Republicans.

The survey question specified that, under the proposal, citizenship would be available only to those who register their presence in the U.S., have no criminal record, pay a fine, get fingerprinted and learn English, among other requirements.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/na...=la-home-center

[homesick_american 1]

Count me among the minority who does not support it.

[Ban Hammer 13,498]

they certainly didn't get my opinion

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I must be hanging with an odd crowd since I have not yet actually spoken to anyone who'd support the amnesty.

[Ban Hammer 13,498]

I must be hanging with an odd crowd since I have not yet actually spoken to anyone who'd support the amnesty.

maybe they called steven hundreds of times

[peejay 327]

They probably conducted the poll in the barrios of L.A.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...cough...cough...

As sharply divided as Americans are on the specifics of dealing with immigration, there's significant agreement on the broad principles of comprehensive reform. That fact is obscured by the intensity of the immigration hardliners' rhetoric and by the difficulty many progressives have internalizing the fact that a majority of Americans support a progressive approach to immigration control.

That's what the data show. For two years the issue has been subject to the most extreme demagoguery. Rush Limbaugh and Lou Dobbs have claimed repeatedly and wrongly that illegal immigrants are violent felons who take American jobs and depress American wages. For the past two years Michelle Malkin has argued that immigration is a Mexican plot to retake the Southwest. While interviewing Sen. John McCain last month, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said that the latest immigration bill was supported only by "the far left" in order "to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, of which you're a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have." "It's an invasion!" they cry.

As a whole, Americans have been beaten over the head with this invective for years, but they're not buying it. Whether on the left or right, polls show that while most people are indeed concerned about immigration, most approach the issue pragmatically, regardless of what policies they might want to see in a perfect world.

A CNN poll taken early in May (PDF) found that 80 percent -- four in five -- favor "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." Less than half of respondents favored "building a 700-mile-long fence on the border with Mexico." (Making those 46 percent happy was part of the comprehensive reform proposal agreed in the Senate last year and in the draft "compromise" that was shot down last week. This year's draft called for an increase in the number of border patrol personnel and "the installation of at least 200 miles of vehicle barriers; 370 miles of fencing; and 70 ground-based radar and camera towers along the southern border, and four unmanned aerial vehicles.")

A Gallup poll from mid-April found that only one in five wanted immigrants already in the country to leave forever or to leave and return as temporary guest workers without the possibility of citizenship. Again, eight in 10 favored granting immigrants a path to citizenship if they "meet certain requirements over a period of time." A New York Times/ CBS poll that was taken after details of the new compromise were released in mid-May found that two-thirds of respondents said, "Illegal immigrants who have a good employment history and no criminal record should gain legal status as the bill proposes: by paying at least $5,000 in fines and fees and receiving a renewable four-year visa."

http://alternet.org/module/printversion/53843

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...and just about 9 months ago...

November 21, 2006 - Let Illegal Immigrants Become Citizens, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; But Do More To Tighten The Borders, Voters Say

By a 69 - 27 percent margin, American voters say illegal immigrants should be allowed into a guest worker program with the ability to work toward citizenship over a period of several years, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

Republicans support the guest worker to citizenship path 66 - 31 percent, while Democrats back it 73 - 23 percent and independent voters back it 71 - 24 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Building a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexican border is "enough for now," 24 percent of voters say, but 71 percent say, "additional measures are needed from Congress to deal with illegal immigrants entering the country."

By a narrow 48 - 44 percent margin, American voters think President George W. Bush and Democrats in Congress will be able to work together on the immigration issue.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=988

[William33 110]

I bet we could conduct a poll and get sharply different results. In my opinion, Poll results are often fabricated.

I also do not support that. Anyone want to start a poll on this? Bet it won't be 63%.

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

I wonder what result they would get if the poll was done on Legal immigrants that went through the pain of immigration themselves

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Although the pathway to citizenship was one of the most controversial provisions of the Senate bill, the poll found the idea was backed by 63% of those surveyed...

A CNN poll taken early in May (PDF) found that 80 percent -- four in five -- favor "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."

...

A Gallup poll from mid-April found that ... eight in 10 favored granting immigrants a path to citizenship if they "meet certain requirements over a period of time."

By a 69 - 27 percent margin, American voters say illegal immigrants should be allowed into a guest worker program with the ability to work toward citizenship over a period of several years, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

Good finds, Steven.

63%, 80%, 69%.

[William33 110]

Although the pathway to citizenship was one of the most controversial provisions of the Senate bill, the poll found the idea was backed by 63% of those surveyed...

A CNN poll taken early in May (PDF) found that 80 percent -- four in five -- favor "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."

...

A Gallup poll from mid-April found that ... eight in 10 favored granting immigrants a path to citizenship if they "meet certain requirements over a period of time."

By a 69 - 27 percent margin, American voters say illegal immigrants should be allowed into a guest worker program with the ability to work toward citizenship over a period of several years, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

Good finds, Steven.

63%, 80%, 69%.

Unless you poll several million, the results are #######.

CNN and Gallup draw results from a few thousand. Hardly results representative of the populus.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Polls are produced for consumption by organizations that purchase polling data. Organizations that have been producing polls for a long time are usually quite adept at choosing representative samples.

[William33 110]

Polls are produced for consumption by organizations that purchase polling data. Organizations that have been producing polls for a long time are usually quite adept at choosing representative samples.

Public opinion swaying and manipulative samples.

[pedroh 21]

that's why it's a poll.. not a census.. polls are not just heyy let's interview 100 random guys.. they do select different people from different neighborhoods, states, incomes, etc... and the representative sample usually represents an answer from the bigge 'universe' of people.. usually over 400 people u can get over 98% confidence.. of course with a +/- 2 or 3%.. but still.. it's not that innacurate.. we've had to see who they interviewed, the samples, and procedures of the survey in order to determine if it's a bs survey or not