Sympathy on immigration

Poll: Sympathy on immigration, but desire for secure borders

USA TODAY

Two-thirds of Americans want the government to do
a better job of securing the borders, but they are
sympathetic to illegal immigrants who have been
working hard and staying out of trouble, a USA
TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.

Eight in 10 Americans are concerned that illegal
immigrants burden schools, hospitals and other
government services, and 77% worry that they drive
down wages, the poll finds.

Yet 77% are concerned that stricter laws would mean
illegal immigrants and their families who have lived
productively in the USA for years would be forced to
leave.

The seeming contradiction reflects the difficulty in
grappling with the issue, said Tomas Jimenez, a
fellow at the non-partisan New America Foundation.

"On the one hand, they don't like the idea that
people are breaking our immigration laws, that it
appears we have a southern border that is out of
control," Jimenez said. "On the other hand, they
think the people coming here who work hard, who
have dreams of a better life, are really participating
in an American tradition that is as old as this
country."

In the poll, 68% say it is extremely important or very
important to halt the flow of illegal immigrants into
the country, and 67% say it is extremely or very
important to develop a plan to deal with about 12
million illegal immigrants in the USA. Yet 74% are
somewhat or very concerned that tougher
immigration laws would lead to harassment of
Hispanics.

Bob Dane, a spokesman for the Federation for
American Immigration Reform, said the numbers
mirror the federation's positions against citizenship
for illegal immigrants and for denying them jobs
and benefits. "Americans want enforcement, but
they're fair-minded," he said.

Ali Noorani of the Reform Immigration for America
campaign, which supports a process for some
illegal immigrants to become citizens, sees a
sympathetic response that recognizes a broken
system. "People are frustrated, but they don't want to
take their frustrations out on the immigrants," he
said.

Other findings:

•Sixty-four percent are sympathetic to illegal
immigrants. Of Democrats, 75% are sympathetic;
among Republicans, 46% are.

•Eighty percent of all respondents are very or
somewhat concerned that allowing illegal
immigrants to stay in the USA might encourage