Immigration

53% Favor Automatic Immigration Checks During Traffic Stops

Over half of voters still think police officers should automatically check someone’s immigration status if they pull them over, but that is the lowest finding to date.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters think police should automatically check immigration status during traffic stops, down from 60% in August. Thirty-seven percent (37%) do not think police should automatically check immigration status, the highest finding in surveys since November 2007. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

59% Favor A Welcoming Immigration Policy

Most voters continue to welcome newcomers to this country as long as they pose no threat to public safety.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only criminals, national security threats and those who come here to life off the welfare system. Just 25% disagree with an immigration policy like this, while 16% 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 November 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.

81% Think Government Aid Recipients Should Be Required to Prove Legal Residency

Despite the controversy over requiring photo identification at the polls, voters overwhelmingly believe those who receive government services should be required first to show they are in this country legally. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Likely U.S. Voters think individuals must prove they are legal U.S. residents before receiving government services here. Only nine percent (9%) disagree with such a requirement. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May September 11-12, 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.

63% Oppose Driver’s Licenses, Public Benefits for Illegal Immigrants Who Get Work Permits

Most voters still agree with President Obama’s new policy allowing some young illegal immigrants to get legal work permits, but they strongly oppose also making these young people eligible for driver’s licenses or taxpayer-funded benefits.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe someone brought to this country illegally when he or she was under 16 years old who has no criminal record, has graduated from high school or served in the military should be allowed to apply for a legal work permit. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% think someone like this should be deported. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 16-17, 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.

56% Put Border Control First

Most voters continue as they have for years to put border control ahead of legalizing the illegal immigrants already in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living here. Thirty-five percent (35%) put legalizing the status of undocumented workers first. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 6-7, 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.

57% Favor Strict Sanctions On Those Who Hire Illegal Immigrants

Most voters continue to favor sanctions on those who hire illegal immigrants but seem to be a little less enthusiastic about it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor strict sanctions for employers who hire illegal immigrants. That's down from 65% in April and the first time that support for strong sanctions against employers has fallen below the 60% mark in regular surveying since March 2009.

More in line with surveying earlier this year are the 25% of voters who oppose strict sanctions on employers. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure about them. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

60% Say Border Control Should Be Top Immigration Priority

Most voters continue to favor a welcoming immigration policy that focuses on gaining control of the border.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely Voters agree that the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only national security threats, criminals and those who come to the United States to live off its welfare system. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 25-26, 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.

Arizona Voters Blame Government, Employers for Illegal Immigration

Arizona is at the forefront of the national debate over stopping illegal immigration, but voters in the state are more likely to blame those who encourage the immigrants than those who come here illegally.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Arizona finds that 42% are angry about current immigration policy, and another 33% are mildly frustrated by it. Only 23% consider immigration policy just one of many issues they have an opinion on. (To see survey question wording, click here.)\

This Arizona survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on June 26, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

58% Think Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration

Most voters continue to believe the federal government encourages rather than discourages illegal immigration.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters think the policies and practices of the federal government encourage illegal immigration. Just 24% disagree, while 18% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 25-26, 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.

55% Want U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Arizona Immigration Law

Most voters still want an immigration law like Arizona’s in their own state and hope the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the legality of the Arizona law this week.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of Likely U.S. Voters would like to see the Supreme Court uphold the law that Arizona adopted to reduce illegal immigration in the state. Just 26% would like to see the high court overturn the law. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 21-22, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points ith a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

71% Favor Work Permits for Young Illegal Immigrants in Certain Circumstances

Most voters don’t think the government is aggressive enough in deporting illegal immigrants but agree with President Obama’s decision to allow young people brought here illegally who meet certain criteria to avoid deportation.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government is not making enough effort to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Only 16% feel the government is doing too much to deport illegals, while 25% say the current amount of effort is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on June 17-18, 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.

55% Favor Welcoming Immigration Policy

Most voters continue to support a welcoming immigration policy but still feel the focus of immigration reform should be on gaining control of the border. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% 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 come to the United States to live off its welfare system. Twenty-nine percent (29%) disagree, while 16% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 22-23, 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.

58% Concerned Efforts To Identify Illegal Immigrants Will Violate Civil Rights

While voters remain concerned that efforts to deport illegal immigrants will inadvertently lead to civil rights violations, a majority still disagrees with granting automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants born in the United States. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants will also end up violating the civil rights of some U.S. citizens, including 24% who are Very Concerned.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) are not concerned a citizens' rights will be violated in this process, with 10% who are Not At All Concerned.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 22-23, 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.

60% Say Focus of Immigration Policy Should Be Border Control

Even as the U.S. Supreme Court debates the legality of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants, most voters continue to support a welcoming immigration policy, but they also still feel immigration policy should focus first on border control.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 20-21, 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.

59% Favor Automatic Immigration Checks During All Traffic Stops

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on the controversial immigration law first passed in Arizona two years ago, and a majority of voters nationwide still agree with one of the law’s chief provisions. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 59% believe police should automatically check the immigration status of individuals they pull over for a traffic violation. One-in-three (32%) opposes such a rule. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 20-21, 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.

60% Say Border Control Is Priority in Immigration Reform

Voters continue to support a welcoming immigration policy and still feel strongly that immigration reform should focus on border control.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely Voters think when it comes to immigration reform, gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers who are already in the United States.  Thirty-three percent (33%) feel the opposite is true.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 19-20, 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.

56% Say Federal Government Encourages Illegal Immigration

Most voters continue to believe the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration, but fewer voters than ever think it’s a good idea to put the U.S. military along the border to stop the flow of illegals into this country.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely Voters say the policies and practices of the federal government encourage people to enter the United States illegally.  Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, while 17% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on March 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Say Border Control More Important to Immigration Reform

Voters continue to name border control as the more important issue in immigration reform, but they also still support a welcoming immigration policy.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think when it comes to immigration reform, gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of illegal immigrants who are already in this country. That’s down two points from last month but in line with findings on the question since February 2007.

Thirty-four percent (34%) of voters think it is more important to legalize the status of undocumented workers already living here, unchanged from last month. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 16-17, 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.

59% Fear Efforts To Deport Illegal Immigrants Will Violate Civil Rights of Citizens

While most voters continue to strongly support border control to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country, they also remain concerned that legal citizens will be caught up inadvertently in these efforts.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat concerned that efforts to identify and deport illegal immigrants will also end up violating the civil rights of some U.S. citizens.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) are not concerned a citizen’s rights will be violated in this process.  These figures include 28% who are Very Concerned and 10% who are Not At All Concerned.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 16-17, 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.

58% Favor Welcoming Immigration Policy

When it comes to immigration reform, most voters continue to feel border security should be the main focus but also think it’s important to create a welcoming policy that excludes only threats to society.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out national security threats, criminals and those who come to America to live off the welfare system.  Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, while 15% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on January 17-18, 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.