December 31, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - As the year ends, more people in the United States have a negative opinion of immigration, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 52 per cent of respondents think immigration hurts the U.S. more than it helps it, up eight points since June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - As the year ends, more people in the United States have a negative opinion of immigration, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 52 per cent of respondents think immigration hurts the U.S. more than it helps it, up eight points since June.

In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.

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.

Earlier this month, Iowa Republican Party chairman Ray Hoffman said immigration would be a major issue ahead of next year’s U.S. presidential election, saying, "People are worried about not just illegal immigrants that can come over from Mexico, they just can come over from all over the world. I think this is their fear of the safety of our country. (...) The immigration issue, just like security, is right at the top of the list."

Polling Data

On the issue of immigration... Would you say that immigration helps the United States more than it hurts it, or immigration hurts the United States more than it helps it?

	Dec. 2007	Jun. 2007	Jul. 2006
Helps more than it hurts	39%	46%	45%
Hurts more than it helps	52%	44%	42%
Not sure	9%	10%	13%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 American adults, conducted from Dec. 14 to Dec. 17, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.