Posted on 06/12/2002 11:50:12 AM PDT by The Energizer
New Zogby Poll: Mexicans Say Southwest U.S. Belongs to Them; Shouldn't Need Permission to Enter U.S.
WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans and Mexicans have widely divergent views of border issues, according to a new poll by Zogby International. Zogby found that a large majority of the Mexican population believes the southwest territory of the U.S. rightfully belongs to Mexico, and that Mexicans should have the right to enter the U.S. without first obtaining U.S. permission. By contrast, Zogby's survey of Americans conducted within a few days of the Mexican poll shows a large majority supports reducing immigration levels and wants the military deployed along the border to protect the U.S. from illegal immigration.
Zogby's poll found that 58 percent of Mexicans agree with the statement, "the territory of the United States' Southwest rightfully belongs to Mexico." Only 28 percent disagree, and 14 percent are unsure. A similar majority, 57 percent, agree with the statement, "Mexicans should have the right to enter the U.S. without U.S. permission," while 35 percent disagree. Seven percent are unsure.
The survey has a margin of error of 3.5 percent. The Mexico portion of the survey was conducted in Spanish between May 25 and May 26 among 801 adults chosen at random throughout Mexico. The poll was commissioned by Americans for Immigration Control, Inc. (AIC), which advocates increased restrictions on immigration.
"There is obviously a large and significant gap between the attitudes of Americans and Mexicans," said Robert Goldsborough, AIC president. "While most Americans want immigration reduced, most Mexicans think they don't even need permission to enter our country. The poll clearly shows there is less common ground for immigration negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. than the leaders think. Support for a porous border and a loose migration policy occurs only on the Mexican side, not in the U.S."
Zogby's survey of American attitudes found wide majorities of Americans also oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. The U.S. portion of the survey was conducted of 1,015 likely voters in the U.S. from May 28 to May 30. It found that 65 percent disagree with the statement, "foreigners residing illegally in the U.S. should be given amnesty." Just 26 percent of likely voters support amnesty for illegals, while 9 percent are unsure.
A large majority, 58 percent, agrees that the U.S. should "admit fewer immigrants each year." Only 6 percent want "more immigrants each year," and 30 percent want to "keep immigration at the current annual levels."
The single largest majority in the entire poll was found among Americans supporting use of the military to guard the border. Fully 68 percent of those surveyed agree with the statement, "the U.S. should deploy military troops on the border as a temporary measure to help the U.S. Border Patrol curb illegal immigration." Only 28 percent disagree, and 3 percent are unsure.
Poll details and sub-group tabulations available on request.
Depends on when they were born and if their papers are in order.
Unfortunately, the lax, virtually open-border policy of the Republican leadership is the most Libertarian thing about the GOP.
In 50 BC, my ancestors were painting themselves blue and running nekkid into battle. Let's stick with 1700 please.:)
End the welfare state and illegal immigration becomes a minor problem. I think even die hard Pubbies, Libertarians, and anti-immigration people can agree on this premise.
Didn't work.
First, let's be clear... most who strongly oppose Illegals have no problem with controlled legal immigration.
Second, even if it could be accomplished overnight, doing away with the welfare state would help, but would fall far short of solving the problem. Without serious deportations and fines for Illegals, they will continue to come.
We must do more than remove the carrot, we must swing the stick.
Just because they think something doesn't make them right.
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