Public Opinion Polls on Immigration
The general public overwhelmingly favors immigration reform. Poll after poll shows that Americans want well-enforced, sensible, and sustainable immigration laws.
- 85% of likely voters say that individuals should be able to prove that they are in the country legally before they receive any federal, state, or local government services. Only 8% disagree (Rasmussen, November 2009).
- 68% oppose the creation of sanctuary cities (jurisdictions that have a policy of not enforcing immigration law) with only 13% in favor (Rasmussen, October 2009).
- 73% of Americans want to see a decrease in illegal immigration, while only 3% believe there should be an increase (CNN, October 2009).
- 56% of Mexicans believe that granting amnesty to illegal aliens in the United States would make it more likely that people they know would attempt to illegally migrate to United States. Only 17% think it would make people less likely to migrate illegally to the United States (Zogby, October 2009).
- 65% of Mexicans who have a member of their immediate household in the United States said that amnesty would make people they know more likely to attempt to illegally migrate to America (Zogby, October 2009).
- 55% of Mexicans who expressed a desire to migrate to the U.S. said they would attempt to enter the U.S. illegally (Pew Hispanic Center, September 2009).
- 56% of U.S. voters believe that the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration (Rasmussen, October 2009).
- 83% of U.S. voters say that citizenship verification should be part of any health care reform legislation (Rasmussen, September 2009).
- 78% of likely U.S. voters believe that mass immigration has adversely impacted the quality and cost of the U.S. health care system (Pulse Opinion Research, August 2009).
- 78% of likely U.S. voters oppose amnesty, with 19% in favor. 88% of African-Americans oppose amnesty. (Pulse Opinion Research, August 2009).
- 70% of American voters feel that increased border control should be the most important priority in immigration reform. Only 22% prioritized legalization of illegal aliens (Rasmussen, August 2009).
- 50% of American think immigration to the U.S. should be decreased, while only 14% want to see an increase in immigration to the U.S. (Gallup, August 2009).
- 68% of adults think limiting care to illegal aliens is a good to excellent way to reduce overall health care costs (Zogby, July 2009).
- 80% of likely voters oppose healthcare coverage for illegal aliens (Rasmussen, June 2009).
- 67% of liberals and progressives believe that the level of immigration into the U.S. is too high (Pulse Opinion, April 2009).
- 68% believe that employers who hire illegal aliens should be punished (Rasmussen, March 2009).
- 79% of voters say the military should be used along the border with Mexico (Rasmussen, March 2009).
- 73% believe law enforcement officers should check immigration status during traffic stops (Rasmussen, March 2009).
- Only 32% of Obama voters considered his support for amnesty as a factor in their decisions to vote for him (Zogby, November 2008).
These are only a few examples of the many statistics demonstrating that Americans want lower immigration, greater enforcement, and more commitment to making immigration work in the best interests of the nation.
Most Recent National Polls
Rasmussen, October 30, 2009, poll of 1,000 likely voters
- 68% oppose the creation of sanctuary cities (jurisdictions that have a policy of not enforcing immigration law) with only 13% in favor.
- 49% to 33% say that federal funding should be cut off to sanctuary cities.
- 50% believe that sanctuary policies lead to increased crime, while 20% disagree.
- 56% to 27% believe that the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration.
CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, October 22, 2009, poll of 1,039 adults
- 73% of Americans want to see a decrease in illegal immigration, while only 3% believe there should be an increase.
- 37% want to see all illegal aliens deported, and another 23% want the number if illegal aliens "decreased significantly."
Zogby, October 2009, poll of 1,004 adults in Mexico
- 56% believe that granting amnesty to illegal aliens in the United States would make it more likely that people they know would attempt to illegally migrate to United States. Only 17 % thought it would people make less likely to migrate illegally to the United States (Zogby, October 2009).
- 65% of those who have a member of their immediate household in the United States said that amnesty would make people they know more likely to attempt to illegally migrate to America (Zogby, October 2009).
- Despite the recession, 36% of Mexicans (39 million people) say they would move to the United States if possible.
- 69% believe that the primary loyalty of Mexican-Americans (including those born in the U.S.) should be to Mexico.
- 69% think that the Mexican government should protect the interests of Mexican-Americans living in the United States.
Rasmussen, October 13, 2009, poll of 1,000 likely U.S. voters
- 56% of U.S. voters believe that the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration. Only 27 % of voters disagree.
- With those expressing a feeling of anger over immigration, 83 % of voters are angry at the federal government with only 12 % directing their anger at immigrants.
- 64% of voters believe law enforcement officers should continue to target sites where illegal aliens gather to look for work.
- 71% believe that employers who knowingly hire legal workers should be arrested.
Pew Hispanic Center, September 23, 2009, poll of 1,000 adults in Mexico
- 57% believe that those who move from Mexico to the United States enjoy a better quality of life. 33% would move to the United States if possible.
- Of those who expressed the desire to live in the United States, 55% expressed the inclination to attempt to live and work in the United States illegally.
- 42% believe that it is good for Mexico that so many of its citizens live in the United States.
Rasmussen, September 7, 2009, poll of 1,000 U.S. voters
- 83% of American voters say proof of citizenship should be required before anyone receives government health care aid.
- 95% of Republicans, 87 % of independents and 70 % of Democrats agree.
- 90% of conservatives and 56 % of liberals agree.
- 53 % of voters currently oppose proposed health care reform legislation.
Pulse Opinion Research, August 26, 2009, 1,000 likely voters
- 78% of Americans believe that mass immigration has adversely impacted the quality and cost of the U.S. health care system. 89% of Republicans and 69% were in agreement on this question.
- 73% of likely voters agreed that hospitals should be allowed to collect data about the citizenship status of those seeking emergency room care, while still providing the level of emergency care required by law. Only 18% disagreed.
- 77% believe that providing health insurance to illegal aliens will result in increased illegal immigration to the U.S.
- 83% were concerned that the United States will add 135 million people to its population over the next 40 years, with most of that increase due to immigration.
- 78% of likely U.S. voters oppose amnesty, with 19% in favor. 88% of African-Americans oppose amnesty.
Pulse Opinion Research, April 14, 2009, poll of 600 self-indentified liberals and progressives
- 67% of liberals and progressives believe that the level of immigration into the U.S. is too high.
- 58% feel that the current level of immigration is harmful to the environment.
- 63% said that current levels of immigration hurts job prospects for American workers.
- 67% believe that the current rate of immigration will worsen the future quality of life in U.S.
Rasmussen, March 14-15, 2009 poll of 1,000 voters
- 68% believe that employers who hire illegal aliens should be punished.
- 48% support sanctions on landlords who rent or sell property to illegal immigrants; only 36% are opposed to sanctions.
- 73% believe law enforcement officers should check immigration status during traffic stops.
- 67% say enforcement officers should conduct surprise raids in places where immigrants are known to gather to find work, to identify and deport illegal aliens; 24% oppose these raids.
Rasmussen, March 12-13, 2009 poll of 1,000 likely voters
- 79% (vs. 10%) say the military should be used along the border with Mexico to protect American citizens if drug-related violence continues to grow in that area.
- 82% of voters are concerned that Mexican drug violence will spill over into the United States.
- 61% (vs. 27%) say the United States should continue the fence.
Rasmussen, October 24-25, 2007 poll of 800 likely voters found that:
- 59% (vs. 22%) opposed the DREAM Act (a form of amnesty for former and present illegal alien students) concept.
- 68% (vs. 15%) believe the passage of the bill would encourage more illegal immigration in the future.
- 71% (vs. 16%) believe that illegal immigrants should not qualify for in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities.
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