An immigration reform bill stalled in the U.S. Senate six years ago this month, but supporters expect this year’s model to pass two procedural votes as early as today to advance for further debate. Enhanced border security remains the number one immigration issue with voters but is a secondary issue for many supporters of the so-called “Gang of Eight” reform effort.
Most Americans want to decrease or leave unchanged the number of legal immigrants allowed into the United States even if the government secures the border to stop the flow of illegals. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% of American Adults think the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country legally should be increased if the government actually secures the border and prevents illegal immigration. But 38% believe the government should decrease the level of legal immigration if the border is really secured, while 24% feel the level should be left unchanged. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most Americans think the United States should welcome legal immigrants from around the world but believe those from countries with terrorist ties should be eyed more closely. They also think the United States should give preference to immigrants who are good for the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of American Adults think the United States should treat all potential immigrants equally in thinking about immigration policy. But 29% feel the United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most U.S. voters have a favorable opinion of immigrants who come to this country in pursuit of the American Dream, but only half think immigrants to this country have that goal in mind. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters believe most immigrants work hard, support their families and pursue the American Dream. Only 24% disagree, but just as many (26%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 5-6, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most Americans believe in any given year that illegal newcomers outnumber legal immigrants to the United States. But very few recognize how many legal immigrants enter this country each year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults believe there are more illegal immigrants than legal immigrants in a typical year. Only 14% think there are more legal immigrants coming in. But 30% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Voters aren’t overly optimistic that Congress will pass an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws this year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s at least somewhat likely that the House and Senate will pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation and it will be signed into law by President Obama this year. But 52% consider that unlikely. This includes just eight percent (8%) who say major immigration reform is Very Likely this year and 15% who say it’s Not At All Likely. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 5-6, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Support for a comprehensive immigration reform plan has fallen slightly, as more voters than ever question the willingness of the federal government to control the nation’s borders. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters still favor the plan that would give legal status to those here now illegally who have otherwise obeyed the law as long as the government really secures the border to prevent future illegal immigration. Thirty percent (30%) oppose the plan even with the guarantee of tougher border security. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 5-6, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most Americans continue to believe it is important to secure the border to prevent future illegal immigration, but there’s little talk about how exactly the government should go about doing that. Rasmussen Reports tested some of the tools that have been mentioned to see how effective Americans think they would be.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 78% of American Adults think it is at least somewhat important to secure the border to prevent future illegal immigration, including 57% who view it as Very Important. Seventeen percent (17%) see border security as not very or Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 10-11, 2013, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Eleven percent (11%) of Likely U.S. Voters think people who want to secure the border and prevent illegal immigration are racist, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.
But two-out-of-three voters (67%) disagree with that assessment and say those who want more border control are not racist. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
President Obama argues that more border security is not a necessary first step before legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already here. But most voters are willing to support immigration reform only if it includes both border security and a way for some illegal immigrants to remain in the country.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor an immigration plan that gives illegal immigrants legal status to stay in the United States provided the border is really secured to prevent future illegal immigration. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% are opposed to this plan. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
An estimated 40% to 45% of the 11 million illegal immigrants now in the United States are people who entered the country on legal visas and then stayed on after those visas expired. Most voters think the government should send those people home, but the Political Class disagrees.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the federal government should find these illegal immigrants and make them go home. Only 22% oppose such a policy, while just as many (23%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
There is broad support in America for comprehensive immigration reform, but the devil is in the details.
This reality is highlighted by comparing two different proposals for comprehensive reform. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters support a proposal for securing the border and legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already in the country. Twenty-six percent (26%) are opposed.
However, the numbers shift when provisions are added to punish employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and to make English the official language. Overall, support for the more comprehensive plan increases two points to 61%, while opposition declines three points to 23%. (See wording for both questions.)
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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Border security and a path to citizenship are the most talked about issues when it comes to immigration reform, but another part of the debate involves multiple citizenships. Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters say that if someone wants to become an American citizen, he or she should be allowed to remain a citizen of another country at the same time.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 54% of voters don’t think potential U.S. citizens should be allowed to maintain dual citizenship. Another 12% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Senators hoping to reach bipartisan agreement on comprehensive immigration reform legislation have found a new snag—the provisions for allowing guest workers into the United States.
Seventy-percent (70%) of Likely U.S. Voters support a guest worker program that would allow workers to stay in the United States temporarily if they have a job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% are opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
The United States is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Not surprisingly, voters continue to respect both traditions and strongly agree that legal immigration is good for America. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Likely U.S. Voters think immigration when done within the law is good for America, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Only 19% disagree and feel legal immigration is bad for the country. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure.
Most voters like finding a way for illegal immigrants to stay in this country but not until the border is secured. However, they remain skeptical about the federal government’s interest in securing the border.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a plan that would legalize the status of those here illegally if they have otherwise obeyed the law – provided the border is really secured to prevent future illegal immigration. Twenty-six percent (26%) oppose this comprehensive immigration reform plan even with the promise of tougher border control. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Most voters think legal immigration is good for America but don’t think it’s offensive to regard those who come here illegally as “illegal" immigrants.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters believe, when done within the law, immigration is good for America. Just 18% think legal immigration is bad for the United States, while another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 18-19, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress last week that the U.S.-Mexico border is more secure than ever and that immigration reform legislation should focus its attention elsewhere. But most voters think more border security is needed, and half believe offering citizenship to illegal immigrants already here will just encourage more to come.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with Napolitano that the U.S. border is now more secure than it has ever been. Forty-seven percent (47%) disagree with her assessment, while 28% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 18-19 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Voters continue to favor a welcoming immigration policy but still feel more strongly that stricter border control has to come first. They’re evenly divided, however, over whether the government will make more of an effort to control the border if a new bipartisan immigration reform proposal is passed by Congress.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only national security threats, criminals and those who would come here to live off our welfare system. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree with that goal for immigration policy. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
More voters than ever think that if a woman comes to the United States illegally and gives birth to a child here, that child should be a U.S. citizen. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters share that view, up from September’s previous high of 37%. But 51% still disagree and do not think the child in that situation should be granted citizenship. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
