December 10, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are in favour of a program that would allow illegal immigrants to start on a path to citizenship, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 60 per cent of respondents support the proposal, which calls for undocumented workers to register, pay a fine, get fingerprinted, and learn English.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States are in favour of a program that would allow illegal immigrants to start on a path to citizenship, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 60 per cent of respondents support the proposal, which calls for undocumented workers to register, pay a fine, get fingerprinted, and learn English.

When asked to choose two measures to deal with illegal immigration, 31 per cent of respondents call for more border security, 27 per cent urge for sanctions against employees, 27 per cent endorse the pathway to citizenship, 18 per cent suggest the implementation of a guest worker program, and 16 per cent think more arrests and deportations are required.

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.

On Dec. 6, Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, who is seeking the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2008, declined an invitation to a televised debate on Spanish-language network Univision, saying, "It is the law that to become a naturalized citizen of this country you must have knowledge and understanding of English, including a basic ability to read, write, and speak the language. So what may I ask are our presidential candidates doing participating in a Spanish speaking debate? Pandering comes to mind."

Polling Data

One proposal that has been discussed in Congress would allow illegal immigrants who have been living and working in the United States for a number of years, and who do not have a criminal record, to start on a path to citizenship by registering that they are in the country, paying a fine, getting fingerprinted, and learning English, among other requirements. Do you support or oppose this, or haven’t you heard enough about it to say?

Support	60%
Oppose	15%
Unsure	25%

Considering all you know about illegal immigration, generally speaking, what do you think, if anything, is the most effective measure in dealing with the issue of illegal immigration? Should the focus be on more border security, or more arrests and deportations, or sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants, or a guest worker program for some businesses such as agriculture, or a pathway to citizenship with certain requirements?
(Two responses accepted)

More border security	31%
Sanctions against employers	27%
Pathway to citizenship	27%
Guest worker program	18%
More arrests and deportations	16%
Other	2%
Nothing is effective	2%

Source: Bloomberg / Los Angeles Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,245 registered American voters, conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.