Posted on 03/31/2006 7:49:32 PM PST by Pikamax
With the immigration debate raging in Congress and immigration supporters spilling out into the streets, the latest Time Poll finds a lopsided majority of the American public, 72%, favor a "guest worker" program in a head-to-head match-up over a House bill that would criminalize illegal immigration.
The latest Time Poll of 1,004 adults, conducted March 29-30, finds that even a large majority of border state residents, 78%, favor the guest worker approach over expelling illegals. Large majorities of Republicans (66%), Democrats (75%), and Independents (73%) favor the guest worker approach.
Favor Tougher Border Security Too As a fractured Congress debates immigration reform, two-thirds (68%) say that illegal immigration is an extremely/very serious problem in the United States. A large majority believe the U.S. is not doing enough to secure its borders (82%). While Americans overwhelmingly favor the guest worker option, they also want a crackdown at the border and stiff penalties for employers who hire illegals.
The debate has Americans voicing sometimes contradictory opinions. A small majority (51%) still think the U.S. would be "better off" by deporting all illegal immigrants compared to a little less than two-in-five (38%) who think the U.S. would be "worse off." Americans would also limit illegals' access to government services, such as driver's licenses (69% not allow), health care/food stamps (75% not allow), and attending public schools (51% not allow). Support Beyond Guest Workers Most Americans would allow illegal immigrants to gain citizenship under certain circumstances.
Demonstrations Backfire? Partisanship and Geography Differences
Other Political Fallout As President Bush meets in Cancun on immigration and trade issues with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Bush's overall approval rating sits at 37%. A majority disapprove of his handling of illegal immigration (56% disapprove - 25% approve). His disapproval score on immigration is down five points from January's 61% disapprove – 24% approve. Almost equal numbers of Americans are more likely to vote for (29%) or vote against (28%) a candidate who favors criminalizing illegal immigration. More than 1 in 3 (37%) say it wouldn't have much effect on their vote. Republicans in Congress are more likely to feel the heat on this issue. Republicans (37%) are more likely than Democrats (24%) to support a candidate for Congress who favors making illegal immigration a crime.
The biggest concern for Americans regarding illegal immigration is the drain on taxpayers' dollars to provide services such as health care and education to them (61% "very concerned"). Concern is higher among Republicans (67%) and Southerners (65%). Other major concerns about illegal immigrants are that they:
Methodology This Time Magazine poll was conducted by telephone between March 29-30, 2006 among a national random sample of 1,004 adults, age 18 and older throughout America. The margin of error for the entire sample is approximately +/- 3 percentage points. The margin of error is higher for subgroups. Surveys are subject to other error sources as well, including sampling coverage error, recording error, and respondent error. The Poll's partisan breakdown is as follows: Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas (SRBI) Public Affairs designed the survey and conducted all interviewing. The full Time questionnaire and trend data may be found at: www.srbi.com.
Please Tell Me Which Comes Closest To Your Views
% Favor
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Independent (%)
Allow Illegal Immigrants To Get Temporary Work Visas
72
66
75
73
Make Illegal Immigration a Crime And Not Allow Anyone Who Entered The Country Illegaly to Work or Stay In the U.S.
25
32
22
24
About 2 in 3 (67%) are aware of this week's demonstrations by immigrants and immigrant rights activists in a number of cities. The demonstrations likely had little effect currying support for their pro-immigrant position. Among the people who were aware of the demonstrations, only 14% reported that the protests made them more supportive of rights for illegal immigrants, while almost three times as many, 40%, said that the demonstrations make them less supportive. Almost half (44%) said that the demonstrations had no effect on their stance.
Partisan differences complicate the issue further. However, these are mainly differences in degree:
Do You Favor or Oppose the Following to Deal with Illegal Immigration?
% Favor
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Allowing illegal immigrants to register as guest workers
79
79
77
Allowing illegal immigrants in the US, citizenship if they learn English, have a job and pay taxes
78
73
82
Granting temporary visas to immigrants not in the US so they can do seasonal/temporary work and return to home countries
72
72
71
Providing and enforcing penalties for employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants
71
77
66
Stopping illegal immigrants from entering the US by taking whatever steps necessary to guard the border
62
71
54
Deporting all illegal immigrants
47
58
45
How Concerned Are You About Each Item Concerning Illegal Immigrants?
% Very Concerned
Total (%)
Republican (%)
Democrat (%)
Independent (%)
Costs taxpayers too much money to provide them with services
61
67
57
61
They increase the likelihood of terrorism in the U.S.
44
52
40
44
American workers can't afford to work for the same low wages as illegal immigrants
43
43
43
42
They increase the amount of crime
40
46
38
39
They take jobs away from Americans
35
36
37
30
There are too many people in the U.S.
33
30
34
33
Weaken American way of life
29
33
25
28
32% Democrat
28% Republican
25% Independent
"our leaders"
Only 1 in 4 (25%) support the more drastic House version that would make illegals felons, allowing no illegals into the country, with no guest worker provisions.
That would be me.
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Pic, and scroll backwards:
"Thunder on the Border," click the picture:
( PS- my personal prediction? That picture will become one of the most widely distributed, and most hated, pictures on the internet. The Illegal lobby could not have done more damage to themselves with that "Mexican Flag Superior, America in Distress" photograph if they had tried... )
The 15% probably gave the wrong answers.
Sure it does ~ it's a Time survey.
Boy were they ever surprised to find out they were still waiting on uncle whatsit to send them their tickets to come to America ~ and were they ever mad@@@!!!!!
Navy people and prisoners have "boot camp". The Army has BCT or "Basic Training".
That would be me too. Looks like we just screwed up their poll!
That is a loaded question and does not explain that if these illegals go back and reapply then they can shed their illegal status they now have. The question makes it sound like once illegal as of right now...then always. Not true.
The human mind is not like a Swiss watch
No, but your's is dear..lol...admittedly.
Plus...since when do we trust TIME polls around here?
"Check the record of the SLimes polling companies. They also said Querry would win the presidential elections."
axes_of_weezles
Just curious.
Will those that were high fiving congress on the ports deal come forward now, and tell them to get this program started?
OOOOOOOOOOH.
ZING!
GOOD post, ohioWfan!
I was hit over the head on that ports deal with "THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! Congress did the WILL of the PEOPLE!!"
I'll bet the people throwing punches at us about those ports deal polls are gonna keep quiet about this one.
Ya think?? :)
LOL -- like I wrote: ... ZING ...!!!
I have a feeling the silence will be deafening. :)
This is an outright lie on the part of MsM Tonk!
*** crickets ***
"This is an outright lie on the part of MsM Tonk!"
Yep, Pretty obvious that those FReepers who back this
"plan" are way off base with the rest of FR!
Free Republic Opinion Poll:
Do you support or oppose H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005?
FReeper Member Opinion
as of 4/01/06 at 1 PM PST
Support 83.6% 1,468
Oppose 16.4% 289
100.0% 1,757
Thank Goodness the FReeper RINO's are only 16.4 %
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
