December 15, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States are divided on how to deal with the undocumented workers who live in their country, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 38 per cent of respondents think illegal immigrants who are currently working in the U.S. should be allowed to stay in their jobs, and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States are divided on how to deal with the undocumented workers who live in their country, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 38 per cent of respondents think illegal immigrants who are currently working in the U.S. should be allowed to stay in their jobs, and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.

Conversely, 38 per cent of respondents would allow undocumented immigrants to become temporary guest workers but not citizens, while 28 per cent call for illegal immigrants to leave their jobs and leave the U.S.

In May 2006, 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.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate discussed and rejected a revised immigration bill, which would have allowed illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa." After paying fees, a $5,000 U.S. fine and then returning to their home countries, they could apply for permanent residency, which could be granted in eight to 13 years. The bill also included a proposal to introduce a points system that would prioritize access to the U.S. for skilled and educated immigrants, as well as new family-reunification guidelines.

On Dec. 12, Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, who is seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, blamed illegal immigration on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), saying, "NAFTA has been a disaster for a lot of places and especially Mexico. Southern Mexico, it was a disaster. It destroyed the entire agricultural economy. Guess what happened? They all came north. (...) What, of course, is also ingrained in this whole discussion is the lack of sovereignty, the fact that our borders are now meaningless, the fact that Mexican trucks can come across essentially without being checked. These are the problems with NAFTA and they have to be unwound."

Polling Data

Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently working in the U.S.?

They should be allowed to stay in their jobs, and to eventually apply for U.S. citizenship	38%
They should be allowed to stay in their jobs only as temporary guest workers, but not to apply for U.S. citizenship	28%
They should be required to leave their jobs and leave the U.S.	28%
Not sure	6%

Source: New York Times / CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,133 American adults, conducted from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.