Poll: Americans Still Favor Path To Citizenship (almost 2/3 of respondents)

[pampango]

Almost two-thirds of Americans support including a pathway to citizenship in any immigration reform deal, according to a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute.

The poll, which was released on Monday, finds that 63 percent of Americans favor providing a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens if they meet certain requirements. Support for a pathway to citizenship cuts across party lines; 73 percent of Democrats, 60 percent of Republicans, and 57 percent of Independents favor that approach, which the Senate adopted in the bipartisan reform bill it passed over the summer.

Just 14 percent of Americans support a plan allowing undocumented immigrants to become permanent legal residents, but not citizens. This is the approach favored by many Republicans who recognize the need to reform the immigration system, but consider a path to citizenship to be “amnesty.” Politically, this tactic is clearly a non-starter — indeed, it is even less popular than a policy that would simply deport all undocumented immigrants (this is supported by 18 percent).

The poll also confirms that Americans are eager to see the House act on reform; 34 percent believe that the immigration system is completely broken — up from 23 percent in PRRI’s March 2013 poll — and 31 percent believe that it is mostly broken. Furthermore, 41 percent believe that reforming the system should be an immediate priority for President Obama and Congress — up from 37 percent in March — while 42 percent say that it should be a priority over the next couple of years. Just 14 percent say it should not be a priority at all.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/poll-americans-still-favor-path-to-citizenship/

Romney's "self-deportation" is still polling at 18% which must be the percentage of tea party types participating in the poll. A pathway to citizenship is supported by 60% of republicans (which must be much higher of non-tea party repubs).

[pinboy3niner]

1. Watch out for GOP attempts to make it a path to "legalization"

They're fine with something that falls short of citizenship and voting rights.

[BlueJazz]

2. I'm one of the few on DU who are torn on this issue. If it came to a vote, I'd say Yes...But...

...several of my acquaintances and a few of my friends became a US citizen the correct way. Waiting their turn.
Again...I'd vote yes but not happy about it.

[pipoman]

3. The wait is unreasonable

as is the cost. The only Mexicans legally immigrating to the US are well educated and most pay hefty lawyer bills plus immigration costs of $2-3k, costs the vast majority of Mexicans couldn't come up with in a decade. Mexicans enter the US to try to improve their lives and that of their children, or to escape violence. Those who are here illegally aren't actually contributing to society, beyond their withholding which they can never reap the benefits of. I believe strongly that there should be a reasonable and economically possible way to immigrate from Mexico....and a way for those already here to become legitimate..most want nothing more..

I always wonder how long an American citizen unable to care for themselves or their family would wait if there was hope across our northern border..I would do what is necessary to give my family a chance at a better life under those conditions..

[Lasher]

4. Your opinion might not be as uncommon here as you think.

Without stronger enforcement of our current immigration laws and better border control, I don't see how immigration reform would be meaningfully different from the Reagan amnesty of 1986 - except that we have nearly 4 times as many illegal immigrants living here today.

And public opinion regarding enforcement might not be as evenly divided as the Public Religion Research Institute Poll seems to indicate. According to a USA Today Poll conducted in April by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, most Americans see enforcement as a higher priority than dealing with illegal immigrants already in the US:

"Which problem concerns you the most: the problem of preventing illegal immigration in the future, or the problem of how to deal with illegal immigrants already in the U.S.?"

Preventing in future - 55%

Dealing with those in US - 33%

Both equally - 6%

Unsure/Refused - 6%