Illegal Border Crossings Today:

Iowa Poll Data

Selzer & Co. of Des Moines Poll of adults in Iowa 

October 7, 2010

  • 66% of Iowans favor an illegal-immigration law for their state like the one recently passed in Arizona.

Rasmussen Poll: Arizona Law SB 1070

July 2010

Suppose the new Arizona immigration law was being considered for your state. Would you favor or oppose passage of that law in your state?

A Des Moines Register poll of 801 adults surveyed in February 2008 (published September 10, 2008) found that:

  • 55 percent of Iowans say state government can deal more effectively with illegal immigration than the federal government can.
  • 85 percent of Iowans favor penalizing executives whose companies knowingly hire illegal immigrants. That idea got more support than any other possible legislative priority about which respondents were asked.
  • 69 percent say they back the notion of hiring more troopers to enforce federal immigration laws in Iowa [in the 287(g) program].
  • Almost two-thirds of Iowans say better enforcement of immigration laws in Iowa is very important for lawmakers to address this year.

A Rasmussen Report poll conducted 825 Likely Republican Caucus Participants in Iowa on November 12, 2007 found:

  • 91% oppose granting drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens. 
  • 86% say that when police officers pull someone over for a traffic violation, they should routinely check to see if that person is in the country legally. 
  • 76% believe that if an illegal immigrant is discovered in this manner, they should be deported. 

.A New York/ CBS News Poll taken from November 2-11, 2007 of 1,273 attendants of Iowa Democratic and Republican Caucuses found:

  • 86% of Republicans believe immigration is a serious problem (47% “very serious” and 39% “somewhat serious”), compared to 59% of Democrats (25% “very serious” and 34% “somewhat serious”). 
  • 44% (a plurality) of Republicans believe illegal immigrants should be required to leave jobs and US, compared with 51% of Democrats who believe illegal aliens should be allowed to say and apply for citizenship. 
  • Among Republicans, immigration ranks first in “the one issue you would like candidates to discuss during the election.” Among Democrats, health care ranked first. 

Des Moines Register, Sept, 2001

  • 91% of Iowans say they are willing to accept tighter restrictions on immigration.