I think you are wrong about that. I think illegal immigration is every bit as huge an issue as obamacare; take a look at what happened in Oregon if you think it is not.
I suggest an experiment. Each freeper go door-to-door and ask 100 people an open ended question:
What are the top 3 issues the government should do something about? I’ve done exactly this many times over 50 years. Often I’ve done it as a petition with over 500 signatures of my neighbors in several neighborhoods as I moved.
Almost always, Education is in the top 3. Nobody agrees on the solution. But everyone agrees it is the problem. During recessions, jobs and the economy are in the top 3. After 911 terrorism was in the top 3.
It is rare the person who mentions immigration. (Immigration has been one of my own issues at least since the Bracero program of the 50s.)
Then go to a second 100 people with a multiple choice list: Abortion, Gay marriage, gun control, taxes, spending on foreign policy; spending on bailouts; spending on entitlements; spending on pork; the debt, the FED printing money; drugs, etc, etc and immigration.
I predict immigration will not get many votes. I predict that if you use the word “immigration” or “illegal immigration” the result will not be much different.
I predict that if you ask subjective questions, you can tilt the poll anyway you wish. Sample question:
“The Assembly of God church 2 blocks away has 300 immigrants, most of them illegals, attending that church. Do you think they should be deported?”
“Many of them have a spouse or children who are citizens. Do you think the illegal person should be deported in that case?”
Or “There are 300 immigrants, most of them illegals, in that apartment complex 2 blocks away. They play loud foreign music and repair their cars on the street. Do you think they should be deported?”