A new New York Times/CBS News poll taken April 28 through May 2 of 1,079 adults found 51% favor the anti-immigrant law enacted in Arizona on April 23. Thirty-six percent said it went too far and 9% said it did not go far enough.
A whopping 78% of the respondents said the federal government could do more at the border to keep out illegal immigrants. However, 57% said immigration laws should be determined by the U.S., and not by the states.
The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in the state without legal documentation. A week after enacting the law April 23, Arizona legislators and Gov. Jan Brewer amended a controversial section allowing police to ask people for legal status only if stopped for questioning in connection with another suspected crime.
The poll indicated Westerners and Northeasterners were more inclined to say the Arizona law went too far.
Americans are split on whether immigration reform should allow a path towards citizenship among the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants now in the country. The poll revealed Democrats are more likely than Republicans or independents to support some form of amnesty.
American attitudes towards illegal immigrants remain unchanged with 75% saying they weaken the nation's economy rather than strengthen it, a charge denied by immigration advocates who insist millions pay federal taxes and Social Security payroll taxes but don't receive its benefits when they return to their home countries. Two in 10 respondents said they believe illegal immigrants contribute to the economy working low paying jobs.
If Congress considers immigration reform this year, the poll indicated 45% said it needed fundamental changes, 44% said it needed to be completely rebuilt and 8% said it needed only minor changes.
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2 comments:
You know what they say about statics. ;) Here's another one, "The Devil is in the details."
My own parents are/were in support of it until they learned more of the details.
What precedent does it set for future laws? If I get a good summer tan I can get very dark, does that mean I have to carry my birth certificate with me to visit Az? What if they don't think it's authentic ('cuz that never happens)? Would my passport be enough?
If it's allowed to stand as-is and how the law is applied will determine how "bad" or "good" it is.
Some other polls
Opinion polls show broad support for tough Arizona immigration law
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/20 … ration-law
But findings from three opinion polls released in the past two days seem to counter the anger and outrage being expressed in and about Arizona’s move:
• An online Angus Global Monitor poll found 71 percent of respondents in favor of requiring state and local police to determine a person’s residency status if there is “reasonable suspicion” that the person is an illegal immigrant, as well as arresting people who are unable to provide documentation to prove they are in the US legally. Also, 53 percent of respondents would make it a crime to hire day laborers off the street.
• A Zogby Interactive poll of 2,108 adults conducted from April 16-19 found broad support for major immigration reform and immigration regulations that are more restrictive. “79 percent do not agree that illegal aliens are entitled to the same rights and basic freedoms as US citizens,” said the poll.
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