POLL: MOST GOP VOTERS SUPPORT IMMIGRATION REFORM

A new poll from Benenson Strategy Group (commissioned by America's Voice), has a surprising finding - the vast majority of self-identified GOP voters support immigration reform. The poll found the following:

• When asked whether they support Congress passing “comprehensive immigration reform,” without hearing details about what the plan includes, 63% of Republicans said yes and 22% said no.   


• When given the details behind reform, and asked whether they support Congress passing a law that would: “Secure the border, crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, and require illegal immigrants to register for legal immigration status, pay back taxes, and learn English in order to be eligible for U.S. citizenship,” 89% of Republicans said yes and 11% said no.


• When given three choices for how to deal with the 12 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, 62% of Republicans said “They should be required to register, meet certain conditions, and eventually be allowed to apply for citizenship.”  Eight percent of Republicans said “They should be legally allowed to stay on a temporary basis but not allowed to become U.S. citizens,” and 28% said “They must leave the country.”


• The survey also tested support for an enforcement-only approach, and found that 62% of Republican voters prefer a comprehensive approach the enforcement-only alternative (36%).  This is especially notable given the fact that the enforcement-only option included a promise to deny taxpayer funded benefits to illegal immigrants, which was these voters’ top issue of concern.

This tells me that the vocal critics of reform in the GOP fall in to one of three groups -

1. Those that genuinely oppose immigration reform and simply don't care what their constituents think;

2. Those that understand the numbers but are elevating in importance the vocal minority that spends their days faxing, emailing and calling the Hill.

3. Those that are misreading the sentiment of the bulk of their supporters and falsely assume that the faxers represent the typical voter.

I suspect most of them are in the third category and if they don't wake up soon, they'll find themselves in even worse political shape than they are today.

Comments

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Just found a great Einstein quote: "Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced." Perfectly describes current immigration laws.

[Jim]

I've seen that segment in CNBC y'day as well.

Couldn't believe Jack Burkman said employer sanctions for hiring illegals is bad and at the same time say to enforce immigration laws and that he believes in the rule of law.

There's definitely a disconnect in his logic.

Employers hiring illegals is the source of everything. Cut off the incentives then US would have solved most of the problem.

What is he is implying is to deport all 12 million illegals but no employer sanctions. That's ridiculous. They will just go back and the problem will repeat itself in couple of years.

Provide a path to citizenship, cut off the incentives to come to the US illegally and deport all those who still do not register after giving the option to be 'legalized' (with strict pre-conditions, of course) is the way to go and the only way to stop the cycle. Some will even go out of the US voluntarily if they cannot do all the pre-conditions.

Jeez. If that's how some GOPs think then we already know why the problem keeps repeating itself.

[gg]

On CNBC today :

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1170877926&play=1

[Greg Siskind]

Legal-immigrant - I think that's precisely the issue and it's what the pro-immigration community needs to focus on. America's Voice is doing a good job on this issue. Business groups will also need to work on this.

[john]

are you kidding. republicans are now wolf in sheep skin. they want to kill whatever comes now so they can get those senate/house seats next year. only that their approach has changed. they publicly say they accept the plan but wait and watch, they will spot some issue in the bill and kick the whole thing. this is a new strategy. so dont be fooled. you are lucky if there is someone out there who really says what they think

[Another voice]

I think these republicans that participated are living with the consequences of their actions and are realizing that this was a losing issue for them and unless they change that they will never be able to compete for certain voter that will make the difference between wining or losing.

[Legal-immigrant]

The problem is, those in the 3rd category do not know they are in that category :) So, how could they be known of the fact?

[Jim]

Maybe, Harry Reid should already consider putting it on the floor before the Aug. recess. Maybe even immediately after he confirms Al Franken when they re-convene after their 4th of July recess.

He keeps saying he has 60 votes in the Senate anyway, add in Franken - why wait? Strike while the iron is hot and ride the momentum. After the Senate passes it and after all the polls and surveys finally sinks in to the congressmen and women maybe the House will finally get the votes they need.