Aa
Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported
(Reuters) - More than half of U.S. citizens believe that most or all of the country's 11 million illegal immigrants should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday that highlights the difficulties facing lawmakers trying to reform the U.S. immigration system.
The online survey shows resistance to easing immigration laws despite the biggest push for reform in Congress since 2007.
Thirty percent of those polled think that most illegal immigrants, with some exceptions, should be deported, while 23 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be deported.
Only 5 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States legally, and 31 percent want most illegal immigrants to stay.
These results are in line with other polls in recent years, suggesting that people's views on immigration have not changed dramatically since the immigration debate reignited in Congress last month, according to Ipsos pollster Julia Clark.
"It's not Americans' views that are shifting. It is that the political climate is ripe for this discussion," after the November election when Hispanics voted overwhelmingly in favor of Democratic President Barack Obama, she said.
"Democrats feel that the time is right to capitalize on their wins and Republicans feel that they had a bad blow and are eager to reach out to Hispanics," she added.
Polls show that most Americans back immigration reform, although they often have different ideas of what that means, with some people favoring looser immigration laws while others want to see greater border security.
A group of eight U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan deal to enact immigration reform, the first major attempt since a similar overhaul died in Congress six years ago.
The senators' proposal calls for a full path to citizenship for illegal immigrants once they pay back taxes and a fine and wait in line behind others applying to become Americans.
A plan by Obama has similar provisions, but the senators want any move to relax immigration laws dependant on boosting security on the southern border.
ISSUE POLARIZES POLICYMAKERS
Attitudes toward immigration are polarized by party, according to another the Reuters/Ipsos poll. Seventy-five percent of Republicans think all or most immigrants should be deported, compared to 40 percent of Democrats who think the same.
Republican Senator John McCain, one of the eight senators in the group, had his own encounter with citizens angered by illegal immigration on Tuesday when residents of his state of Arizona complained bitterly at a town hall meeting about the lack of security on the border with Mexico.
One man asked why troops had not been deployed to the border.
"Why didn't the army go down there and stop them? Because the only thing that stops them I'm afraid to say, and it's too damn bad, is a gun," the man said,
Another resident, Keith Smith, got into a testy exchange with McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate whose views on immigration have fluctuated over the years.
"Cut off their welfare and all their stuff and they'll go back," Smith said, referring to undocumented workers.
McCain had been trying to explain his position: "You're not telling these people the truth. They mow our lawns, they care for our babies, they clean . . . that's what those people do," he said.
The Arizona lawmaker, whose position on immigration hardened during the 2010 midterm elections before softening again, is a key part of the Republican side of the senators' bipartisan immigration effort.
Wednesday's Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted Friday through Tuesday and surveyed 1,443 Americans over the age of 18.
The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online poll is measured using a credibility interval. In this survey, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/21/us-usa-immigration-idUSBRE91K01A20130221
The online survey shows resistance to easing immigration laws despite the biggest push for reform in Congress since 2007.
Thirty percent of those polled think that most illegal immigrants, with some exceptions, should be deported, while 23 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be deported.
Only 5 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States legally, and 31 percent want most illegal immigrants to stay.
These results are in line with other polls in recent years, suggesting that people's views on immigration have not changed dramatically since the immigration debate reignited in Congress last month, according to Ipsos pollster Julia Clark.
"It's not Americans' views that are shifting. It is that the political climate is ripe for this discussion," after the November election when Hispanics voted overwhelmingly in favor of Democratic President Barack Obama, she said.
"Democrats feel that the time is right to capitalize on their wins and Republicans feel that they had a bad blow and are eager to reach out to Hispanics," she added.
Polls show that most Americans back immigration reform, although they often have different ideas of what that means, with some people favoring looser immigration laws while others want to see greater border security.
A group of eight U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan deal to enact immigration reform, the first major attempt since a similar overhaul died in Congress six years ago.
The senators' proposal calls for a full path to citizenship for illegal immigrants once they pay back taxes and a fine and wait in line behind others applying to become Americans.
A plan by Obama has similar provisions, but the senators want any move to relax immigration laws dependant on boosting security on the southern border.
ISSUE POLARIZES POLICYMAKERS
Attitudes toward immigration are polarized by party, according to another the Reuters/Ipsos poll. Seventy-five percent of Republicans think all or most immigrants should be deported, compared to 40 percent of Democrats who think the same.
Republican Senator John McCain, one of the eight senators in the group, had his own encounter with citizens angered by illegal immigration on Tuesday when residents of his state of Arizona complained bitterly at a town hall meeting about the lack of security on the border with Mexico.
One man asked why troops had not been deployed to the border.
"Why didn't the army go down there and stop them? Because the only thing that stops them I'm afraid to say, and it's too damn bad, is a gun," the man said,
Another resident, Keith Smith, got into a testy exchange with McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate whose views on immigration have fluctuated over the years.
"Cut off their welfare and all their stuff and they'll go back," Smith said, referring to undocumented workers.
McCain had been trying to explain his position: "You're not telling these people the truth. They mow our lawns, they care for our babies, they clean . . . that's what those people do," he said.
The Arizona lawmaker, whose position on immigration hardened during the 2010 midterm elections before softening again, is a key part of the Republican side of the senators' bipartisan immigration effort.
Wednesday's Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted Friday through Tuesday and surveyed 1,443 Americans over the age of 18.
The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online poll is measured using a credibility interval. In this survey, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/21/us-usa-immigration-idUSBRE91K01A20130221
Amnesty for those who've been here a specific period of time and put down roots at this point. Otherwise, they can go through the proper channels to become US citizens.
---------------------------------------------------
I agree with that for the most part.
What I object to is the way some people (not you) portray illegal immigrants as bloodsucking thieves who are destroying this country. It is a kind of scapegoating. Many of the people who spout off about them (especially the latin "aliens") use them for cheap labor themselves. This country is basically run on their labor but officially *they* are condemned for trying to make a better life for themselves.
I agree there needs to be a humane and proper procedure for immigration and that we cannot automatically open our borders to everyone w/o limitations but I am addressing the hypocrisy of the more fervent anti immigration stand..
---------------------------------------------------
I agree with that for the most part.
What I object to is the way some people (not you) portray illegal immigrants as bloodsucking thieves who are destroying this country. It is a kind of scapegoating. Many of the people who spout off about them (especially the latin "aliens") use them for cheap labor themselves. This country is basically run on their labor but officially *they* are condemned for trying to make a better life for themselves.
I agree there needs to be a humane and proper procedure for immigration and that we cannot automatically open our borders to everyone w/o limitations but I am addressing the hypocrisy of the more fervent anti immigration stand..
You: liberal
Me: conservative
And we agree on this subject. Yeah.
Me: conservative
And we agree on this subject. Yeah.
Hm. Not how I see it. Work ethic may put you in a position to have others work for you but that is different than wanting to sit on one's butt. 401k's are earned by getting yourself educated and in a situation where you can participate in such a plan and one has to contribute to match any funds. It's a way of encouraging people to not spend every penny they have and save for the future.
Work ethic to me is different than you describe. I found a strong work ethic to be what got me to financial independence (which I was told from a young age that I had to achieve. That NO ONE would catch me as an adult if I fall. I have always believed that and lived that way. ).
Well, perhaps you are too deep for me tonight.
I still believe that we close our borders and send back who cross illegally. Amnesty for those who've been here a specific period of time and put down roots at this point. Otherwise, they can go through the proper channels to become US citizens. Not sure why that is something anyone would have a problem with.
Work ethic to me is different than you describe. I found a strong work ethic to be what got me to financial independence (which I was told from a young age that I had to achieve. That NO ONE would catch me as an adult if I fall. I have always believed that and lived that way. ).
Well, perhaps you are too deep for me tonight.
I still believe that we close our borders and send back who cross illegally. Amnesty for those who've been here a specific period of time and put down roots at this point. Otherwise, they can go through the proper channels to become US citizens. Not sure why that is something anyone would have a problem with.
Excellent.
Thank you for that.
Thank you for that.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
My comment about most Americans not studying history was meant to point out that every civilization that has relied on second class citizens to 'do' for them has collapsed. We have devolved into a nation where the ultimate goal is to become part of the investor class where we can sit on our bvtts and let someone else do the work. It's reflected in our lack of work ethic, our 401k retirement system, our fixation on being entertained, the fact that we are willing to let immigrants be our doctors and engineers rather than educate our children, and a dozen other examples. The Romans voted themselves 'bread and circuses' and hired mercenaries to guard their borders. The problem is not the Mexicans who pick our crops or the South Asians who do our tech work and our doctoring. It's us.
No I dont believe that at all. And honestly I do not think they should wave a wand and let everyone stay. Or come in. Lord knows Jimmy Carter made that mistake (great man, terrible President and yes a Democrat who I voted for (shame face).
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
