Polls & Research

Americans Ponder Worker Program, Citizenship Path

- Many adults in the United States believe illegal immigrants should be allowed to register for temporary legal status and employment, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 65 per cent of respondents support the creation of a guest worker program.

In March, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million. 69 per cent of respondents think persons under the guest worker program should have the ability to work toward citizenship over a period of several years.

On May 15, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.

On Oct. 26, Bush signed the Secure Fence Act of 2006—which authorizes the construction of a 1,100-kilometre barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border—saying, "There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic pass to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation." 71 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. Congress should take additional measures to deal with illegal immigrants entering the country.

Earlier this month in an interview with WorldNetDaily, Republican Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo expressed disappointment with the current administration's immigration policies, declaring, "Everything I see leads me to believe that this whole idea of the North American Union, it's not something that just is written about by right-wing fringe kooks. It is something in the head of the president of the United States, the president of Mexico, I think the prime minister of Canada buys into it."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the creation of a guest worker program that would allow illegal immigrants to register for temporary legal status and employment?

Currently illegal immigrants cannot apply for citizenship. If the law were changed to allow illegal immigrants to register into a guest worker program, should that program offer them the ability to work toward citizenship over a period of several years?

As you may know Congress has passed and U.S. president George W. Bush has signed legislation that would build a 700-mile fence and increase security along the Mexican-U.S. border. Do you think additional measures are needed from Congress to deal with illegal immigrants entering the country or do you think this is enough for now?