Posted on 05/03/2006 7:45:44 PM PDT by nckerr
WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A new Zogby poll of likely voters, using neutral language (i.e., avoiding the words "amnesty" or "illegal alien"), finds that Americans prefer the House of Representatives' enforcement-only bill by 2-1 over Senate proposals to legalize illegal immigrants and greatly increase legal immigration. The poll was conducted for the Center for Immigration Studies. Complete results are on line at:
http://www.cis.org/articles/2006/2006poll.html.
-- On immigration generally, Americans want less, not more, immigration. Only 26 percent said immigrants were assimilating fine and that immigration should continue at current levels, compared to 67 percent who said immigration should be reduced so we can assimilate those already here.
-- While the Senate is considering various bills that would increase legal immigration from 1 million to 2 million a year, only 2 percent of Americans believe current immigration is too low. This was true for virtually every grouping in the survey by ethnicity, income, age, religion, region, party, or ideology.
-- When offered by itself, there is strong support for the House bill: 69 percent said it was a good or very good idea when told that it tries to make illegals go home by fortifying the border, forcing employer verification, and encouraging greater cooperation with local law enforcement, while not increasing legal immigration; 27 percent said it was a bad or very bad idea.
-- Support for the House approach was widespread, with 81 percent of Republicans, 72 percent of independents, 57 percent of Democrats, and 53 percent of Hispanics saying it was good or very good idea.
-- When offered by itself, there is also some support for the Senate approach, though not as much as for the House bill: 42 percent said the Senate approach was a good or very good idea when told it would allow illegal immigrants to apply for legal status provided they met certain criteria, and it would significantly increase legal immigration and increase enforcement of immigration laws; 50 percent said it was a bad or very bad idea.
-- There were few groups in which a majority supported the Senate plan, even when presented by itself. Exceptions included Hispanics, 62 percent of whom said it was a good or very good idea, and the most liberal voters (progressives), 54 percent of whom approved of it.
-- When given three choices (House approach, Senate approach, or mass deportation), the public tends to reject both the Senate plan and mass deportations in favor of the House bill; 28 percent want the Senate plan, 12 percent want mass deportations, while 56 percent want the House approach.
-- But when given a choice between just the House and Senate approaches, without the choice of mass deportations, the public prefers the House approach 64 percent to 30 percent.
-- One reason the public does not like legalization is that they are skeptical of the need for illegal-immigrant labor. An overwhelming majority of 77 percent said there are plenty of Americans to fill low-wage jobs if employers pay more and treat workers better; just 15 percent said there are not enough Americans for such jobs.
-- Another reason the public does not like Senate proposals to legalize illegals and double legal immigration is that 73 percent said they had little or no confidence in the ability of the government to screen these additional applicants to weed out terrorists and criminals.
-- The public also does not accept the argument we have tried and failed to enforce the law: 71 percent felt that past enforcement efforts have been "grossly inadequate," while only 19 percent felt we had made a "real effort" to enforce our laws.
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan research organization which examines and critiques the impact of immigration on the United States.
http://www.usnewswire.com/
A five thousand dollar fine per illegal would stop landlords from leasing to illegals.
flaglady47,
You are a true patriot and a great wordsmith.
Your words should be echoed thoughtout the halls of Conservatism (if there is such a thing with our craven representatives).
If you were to apply for a job, I wouldn't check your SS number. Why? You're a pasty-faced white boy.
But, rather than risk getting scammed, I'd just turn away all Hispanics. And I'd blame it on whichever party was in the White House at the time. You get enough business owners like me who were turning their backs on Hispanics, and there'd be pressure to change the system.
When did checking immigration status devolve onto the backs of American business anyway? If you're here, I ought to be able to hire you.
In principle, not a bad argument. But, the practical issue is that the government already requires some burdensome documentation. Both my children were recently hired for part-time jobs. The level of documentation was considerable, and the paperwork quite burdensome. For example, only certain pieces of documentation were sufficient by themselves. The only single piece of documentation that I had on my own children without going to the safety deposit box at the bank was their passports. Otherwise you needed two. Therefore, the burden already exists.
It doesn't seem to work though. So, replacing with an instant check system would reduce the burden and improve the effectiveness.
This is the identical argument the NRA made with regards to background checks. The NRA was not opposed to background checks for firearms purchases, they just wanted it easy and fast. (Previously, it had been designed deliberately to take weeks and be very burdensome. Now it takes just a few minutes and you hardly notice it.)
If the government cracks down too hard on these guys, businesses will just refuse to hire Hispanics altogether, legal or illegal.
I never mentioned Hispanics. And indeed, the existing background check is done on everyone. My children are basically WASP / white, and they still had to do it. Indeed, the instant check actually protects businesses, which is why gun dealers love it. If the check says that the person is OK, they are legally not liable. Same for businesses.
By passing nothing. We don't live in a democracy, remember, but a representative republic.
With all due respect, sir, you are absolutely dead wrong. As I stated in my post above, these (existing) checks are required of everyone. My beautiful "white" children had to do it.
If the check can be done in two minutes, and relieves the business owner of liability, then it would be a good thing.
According to Senator Cornyn (R-Tx.), my Senator, it would take five years to build such a database.
If your talking about a person who honestly makes a mistake I agree. Some of these employers actively recruit illegals, and they are caught and prosecuted, we are just not putting the resources to catching enough of them to make a difference.
Gee, golly, gosh...could this mean that the President has been lying to us? I'm soooooo shocked!
Sometimes stupid questions don't deserve answers.
Just because there is no finite "percentage" to give you for incarceration does not relieve our government from enforcing the law.
What a silly argument you present. If one were to follow your logic, no laws would be enforced and no one would ever be incarcerated.
Closing the border, fining scoflaw employers and raiding businesses will do a heck of a lot toward encouraging our illegal Mexican neighbors to return home voluntarily. I don't understand why people like you run away screaming like banshees whenever anyone suggests enforcing our laws.
(BTW... how many illegals do you employ???).
It is also not against the law currently to lease an apartment to an illegal.
...it's a stupid question.
LOL!!!! ; )
You have seniority oh Chief of the Petulant and Annoying. To answer your question - ZERO! Round them up and give em' a cool ride on a C-130 to Mexico.
With a good ID system, if you could prove via internet documentation, that you went through the system, to check the ID, no problem. And if you refused to hire someone, without a check, and documentation that you checked, that would open the employer up to a lawsuit. Going though the ID process, would be job one. Getting the requisite get out of jail free card, would and should insulate an employer from lawsuits, or indictments. It is really very simple as I see it. What am I missing? I don't mind an employer checking out this pasty white faced boy, who has really gained some passing familiary with the English langauge, at all. And an employer should do it. In fact, maybe the law should be, that if you don't do it, you are fined period, even if the one without the proper paper work in the file, and an internet log, proves to have had his ancestors here since the Mayflower. Just some thoughts.
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