AP-Ipsos poll on attitudes about immigration

[VirtualChicano]

Sun, Apr. 02, 2006

Some demographics and details about the AP-Ipsos poll on attitudes about immigration
Associated Press

Some demographics and details about the AP-Ipsos poll on attitudes about immigration. The results are taken from a poll of 1,003 adults conducted Tuesday through Thursday by Ipsos, an international polling firm. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

TEMPORARY WORKER PROGRAM: Some 56 percent of those polled said they favor allowing immigrants with jobs who are in the country illegally to apply for legal, temporary worker status. Democrats, at 62 percent, were more likely than Republicans, 52 percent, to support that proposal. Support decreases with age: 65 percent of those age 18-29 supported it, compared with 54 percent of those 35 and older. Support increases with education. Some 65 percent of those with college degrees support it, while 54 percent of those with a high school education or less oppose it. Support is higher in urban areas, 57 percent, and suburban areas, 59 percent, than in rural areas, 47 percent.

CONTRIBUTION OR DRAIN: Some 51 percent of those polled said illegal immigrants mostly make a contribution to American society, while 47 percent said illegal immigrants are a drain. Also, 61 percent of those age 18-34 were more likely to say illegal immigrants make a positive contribution, while 46 percent of those 35 and over felt that way.

Those most likely to say illegal immigrants make a contribution are: people with college degrees, 64 percent; Democrats, 62 percent compared with 41 percent of Republicans; those earning more than $75,000 a year, 61 percent; young people from 18-34, 61 percent; and nonwhites, 61 percent.

Those most likely to say illegal immigrants are a drain: people in rural areas, 53 percent; Republicans, 51 percent compared with 33 percent of Democrats; those over 65, 50 percent; people with income under $25,000 a year, 47 percent.

WOULD A FENCE REDUCE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Two-thirds of the general population say a fence would not reduce the number of illegal immigrants. Majorities in all groups express a lack of confidence that a fence would make a difference.

---

Analysis by AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14247441.htm