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Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters
People line up for assistance with paperwork for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, August 15, 2012.
WASHINGTON — More than half of U.S. citizens believe that most or all of the country's 11 million illegal immigrants should be deported, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday that highlights the difficulties facing lawmakers trying to reform the U.S. immigration system.
The online survey shows resistance to easing immigration laws despite the biggest push for reform in Congress since 2007.
Thirty percent of those polled think that most illegal immigrants, with some exceptions, should be deported, while 23 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be deported.
Only 5 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States legally, and 31 percent want most illegal immigrants to stay.
These results are in line with other polls in recent years, suggesting that people's views on immigration have not changed dramatically since the immigration debate reignited in Congress last month, according to Ipsos pollster Julia Clark.
"It's not Americans' views that are shifting. It is that the political climate is ripe for this discussion," after the November election when Hispanics voted overwhelmingly in favor of Democratic President Barack Obama, she said.
"Democrats feel that the time is right to capitalize on their wins and Republicans feel that they had a bad blow and are eager to reach out to Hispanics," she added.
Polls show that most Americans back immigration reform, although they often have different ideas of what that means, with some people favoring looser immigration laws while others want to see greater border security.
A group of eight U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan deal to enact immigration reform, the first major attempt since a similar overhaul died in Congress six years ago.
The senators' proposal calls for a full path to citizenship for illegal immigrants once they pay back taxes and a fine and wait in line behind others applying to become Americans.
A plan by Obama has similar provisions, but the senators want any move to relax immigration laws dependant on boosting security on the southern border.
Attitudes toward immigration are polarized by party, according to another the Reuters/Ipsos poll. Seventy-five percent of Republicans think all or most immigrants should be deported, compared to 40 percent of Democrats who think the same.
Republican Senator John McCain, one of the eight senators in the group, had his own encounter with citizens angered by illegal immigration on Tuesday when residents of his state of Arizona complained bitterly at a town hall meeting about the lack of security on the border with Mexico.
One man asked why troops had not been deployed to the border.
"Why didn't the army go down there and stop them? Because the only thing that stops them I'm afraid to say, and it's too damn bad, is a gun," the man said.
Another resident, Keith Smith, got into a testy exchange with McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate whose views on immigration have fluctuated over the years.
"Cut off their welfare and all their stuff and they'll go back," Smith said, referring to undocumented workers.
McCain had been trying to explain his position: "You're not telling these people the truth. They mow our lawns, they care for our babies, they clean ... that's what those people do," he said.
The Arizona lawmaker, whose position on immigration hardened during the 2010 midterm elections before softening again, is a key part of the Republican side of the senators' bipartisan immigration effort.
Wednesday's Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted Friday through Tuesday and surveyed 1,443 Americans over the age of 18.
The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online poll is measured using a credibility interval. In this survey, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Phoenix
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The punishment for illegal entry or overstaying your visa is deportation. Enforce the law and deport all of them.
I see the communists are ganging up on McCain again. What about Obama with his fake birth certificate, SSN that will not let him work in the USA. Lets not forget Benghazi. McCain is a piker compared to Obama...the worst President in the history of the USA.
Not only should the illegal alien invaders be deported they should also reimburse this country for any services they used.
Wow! This poll blows up the Liberal Propaganda we always hear about a majority in favor of legalizing these scum.
Lefty pollsters may have been asking questions in a certain way to get the phony majority in favor of these criminals?
Deport all illegal scum. If we can feed, clothe and equip 300,000 soldiers half the world away, with world class medical care on site, year round for about 7 straight years, we can definitely give 11 million illegal scum a one way ticket home.
the only scum i see is chestypuller sure look like you like pulling
Nice piece but one item it misses speaking to is the fact that legal immigrants over the last 20 years have almost double the welfare/assistance rate of native born Americans.
Far from ANY further legal immigration doing the country good, it is costing the shrinking middle class more and more each year to pay for these freeloaders.
Much is said about Americans on public assistance but does it make any economic sense to continue to import over 1 million legal new citizens each year when the economy is in the dumps and those newcomers are a huge net drain on the country?
And don't get me started on wage suppression caused by massive legal and illegal immigration. It is not a coincidence that as we have ramped up immigration in the last 30+ years to levels never seen before wages have remained flat for Americans.
We need a program to stop ALL immigration, legal and illegal for say the next 50 years and see how our population and economy stabilizes.
First rule when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging - but politicians on both side of the aisle for the last few decades have ignored this basic principal.
I think we should deport the Tea baggers. they hate the government, they don't want to pay taxes, and most are too fat and useless to be any good to any country.
Well said for a welfare receipient like yourself.
Yep, you got it right! We hate the government that is giving our country away to illegals just for a vote! Yeah, and this country is a shell of what it used to be. I pay my taxes, they the illegals don't! Whine to your liberal friends who have the same problem you seem to have. Get a life, and stop stealing it from our kids futures.
thomas north, remember,the tea party like the rest of the republican party, pays for your welfare, food stamps, smart phone and your old lady's birth control so she can't reproduce anymore like you.
All you Obama-hating nut-jobs seem to forget one thing - your Repugnican overlords did squat about booting out the beaners when they had the chance. And wasn't St. Ronald Reagan that granted actual amnesty? Ho, ho, ho.
We don't need your racist hate speech here, Colorado.
They are illegal Mexican nationals, not "beaners".
Strategically, it would be virtually impossible to round up 11 million illegals and deport them. I don't agree with much of Floyd said, but I do agree that this problem only exists because the wealthy and the greedy supply jobs for these folks which is the only reason they come here. By they way, border crossings are at the lowest level in many years. In fact, last year more illegals left the country voluntarily than crossed our borders illegally. And finally, the only reason illegals bring drugs here is because Americans are stupid enough to buy them.
Mandatory E-Verify and they go home by themselves... at no cost to the taxpayer.
They found a way here without any help from Uncle Sam and they can find their own way home.
As to the lower numbers of new illegal border crossers - it has to do with our economy being in the s*itter. They aren't coming here to be Americans - they come for jobs and freebies. As we've tried to clamp down on freebies with less jobs comes less illegals.
Agree with that, but there is one problem with that. Most of them have stolen identities and pass E-Verify. I can tell you that firsthand. I fired a guy then he came back to a different department for a job and was hired under a different name. He then failed a drug test and was fired yet again. 6 months later we were bought out and guess who was rehired under, you guessed it, another name. I had to terminate a contract with a temp labor company due to them using illegals. This happens everywhere. It is a major problem.
tom, that's because all of their unwanted are all ready here. The rest of their country are employed manufacturing drugs, to sell up north.
to say most of them when its one indivdual over and over. is to say all all white americans are racist due to one 546 member your logic here sucks. and you should have been fired for not doing your job in finding a reliable company. and 546 members are everywhere too. you are not the people voice just a confussed voice
Truth,
Stop being so blind. This is one example of many that I know of. Fired for getting rid of the company being used before I was hired huh. I did my company a huge favor when I got rid of the people they used before I was hired. Racist no. Just don't think illegals should be here or have any rights because they shouldn't be here in the first place. What part of illegal do you not understand?
The fact is - the World belongs to all of us! We - as Citizens of the World - should be able to come and go anywhere we want to go! Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus didn't need a Passport or permission to travel by a government that is set on it's own agenda! A government is self perpetuating - it wants to get bigger and bigger and bigger and wants total and absolute control of everyone and everything.
Everyone in America is an Immigrant or the offspring of an immigrant - even the Native Tribes. Everyone in Mexico and 99% of the countries in the world are immigrants.
It's My World Mr or Ms Government! Give it back!
When you get Iran, North Korea etc to take that view let us know.
By the way, whats going to stop Al queda from just walking in and blowing up our buildings, killiung Americans, etc if there is no border control?
Give everyone their rights to defend themselves with guns if necessary and eventually the idiots will be killed off.
Eveyone in the Bible defended theirselves and their property and family!
Eveyone in history has been able to defend themselves!
Governments defend themselves!
I will defend myself, my family, my friends and what I have worked for - will you?
emagin1mac, then why don't you go to iran and see how much of it belongs to your sorry but.
UNREAL-3070801 - You need to be able to read. I SAID THE WORLD BELONGS TO ALL OF US! I didn's say the USA - or any other country. What I said was - every country needs to let the people of the world own the world and travel the world - including the Iranian Government!
The world may belong to all of us, and we should travel… however legal citizenship of any country can only be obtained through certain methods. ILLEGAL immigration should not be tolerated… it's not tolerated anywhere else, why should we tolerate it here? Because we are a nation of immigrants? Gimme a break… let them take the time to do the paperwork and pay the necessary fees to come and stay here legally and there is no issue. They can't be bothered to do things legally? Well then we shouldn't be burdened to provide amnesty for them… Deportation should be automatic and swift.
The US currently allows in more than 1 million LEGAL immigrants a year. Top that off with almost the same number of legal specialty visas and I find it hard to believe that we need more than 2 million LEGAL immigrants a year.
Why exactly are some people clamoring for more and more people?
Could it be that per study after study (and common sense) - the more people let into the country the lower our wages will be? That old maxim about supply and demand seems to be true - when you have many people fighting for a few jobs the cost of that labor and the resulting wages goes down.
It isn't rocket science to see how the massive number of legal immigrants has depressed wages of working Americans.
Studies have shown that over 75% of the 'new' jobs created over the last decade went to immigrants. Many Americans have had to train their replacements before being fired.
Other studies have shown that recent immigrants (since the 1965 immigration reform act) consume social services (welfare, food stamps etc) at a rate twice that of previous immigrants and citizens.
So I have a very hard time believing that anyone aside from a rich plutocrat on the right and a vote buying dem on the left would believe that more immigrants are the answer to our problems.
What would help if we actually get to comprehensive immigration reform is a dramatic reduction in immigration numbers and tie it to the US unemployment rate.
So if we have unemployment > 5% we let in 0 people a year. If we have full employment and actually need more people then we can let in say 100,000 people per year for each percentage point below 5%.
The Jordan commission on immigration famously declared that immigration policy and the numbers of people we let into the country each year should be aligned with our national needs.
We have no current need for 1-2 million new laborers (and low skilled/educated ones at that) EACH year.
If that changes we can let in more immigrants but for now we should shut the immigration spigot off and it will help life wage depression and the overall unemployment rate.
Holy Sheeeet Batman, that is diametrically opposed to what ABDC, NBC and CBS have been reporting. How could they be lying to us?????????????????
25sed, easy, either write a lie or speak one. Not hard if you are a liberal.
Our politicians are a group of IDIOTS. They don't represent us they represent themsleves. They are supporting Immigration because they think it will get them re-elected - not because it's right (good) for America. IDIOTS ! It wasn't the Latino vote that turned the tide on the Presidential election. It was caucasion women between 18 - 55, just check it out. This entire immigration leniency matter is a disaster for America. The majority of americans are 100% opposed. For example, I can't in my wildest dreams understand how the people of Arizona can possibly elect McCain when he isn't even coming close to supporting their views - America's Views. McCain is only supporting a view that he believes will get him re-elected. He's mistaken as his has been about everything in the past decade. The man has lost his grit. This is the case will of these republican fools who are in panick mode. Hell they would support Daffy Duck for Secretary of Defense if they thought it would get them re-elected. IDIOTS one & All !
They needed to conduct a survey to find this out?
Majority of Americans believe in constitutional rights but that doesn't stop some in government from thinking they know bests and the people should just Trust them. They say they can't say just why because its Classified.
This is the country for illegals oh! excuse me .... I am sorry, for undocumented immigrants. I am pissed off. Let them come, let them work and get paid under the table, pay no taxes, collect welfare for each child born here times how many children, let the others work and pay taxes.
So come on in, we have 20 millions now and this is the time ... get in here.
I am here working for you. Not for my kids
I believe the correct term is 'pre-legal Democrat'.
Here's an idea for the pollsters:
Take a poll of legal immigrants and ask them if illegal immigrants should be deported.
I'm guessing landslide against illegals.
Steven B
You are absolutely correct. I knew a illegal immigrant family from Mexico and when I suggested they open the border he said "No - Too Many Banditos will come over here". He was a hard working guy and supported his wife and two kids - under the table, naturally. They finally did catch up with him and shipped him back - I bought the stuff his wife had for sale (she was illegal too) so she could take her two American born kids back to Mexico to be with her husband.
I don't think that those brought here as children should be deported if they are contributing to society in a positive way. Imagine growing up here, going to school here, developing friendships and then because of your parents illegal actions you'd be forced to go to a country where you have no roots, a potentially dangerous country at that. Children should not be punished for the actions of their parents. And just to be clear, I was born and raised in America and I don't know/know of any illegal aliens, this is just my opinion.
So do the bank robbers children get to keep the loot their parents stole?
And then when they turn 18 do the bank robbers children get their parents a get out a jail card?
That is the moral equivalent to what illegal alien parents do to their children.
Sorry - but there are about 7 billion poor kids who would rather be in the US then elsewhere. They should stay elsewhere.
Their parents should have thought of that before coming here ILLEGALLY…
Send all the illegals back to where they came from and ban them, and their children and grandchildren from reentering the U.S.A.
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses....
******
By LEGAL means. NOT by sneaking over the borders and slapping all the LEGAL naturalized citizens in the faces.
Reall , only just above half ? I say that because about 99% here are for it !
Does it really matter what the people want anymore ?
Really? Well considering the fact "illegal alien invaders" pay taxes, rent and buy homes, purchase goods and services, etc, it is only fair that you ALSO "reimburse this country for any services" YOU might have used, or are currently using. After all, what's fair is fair. And there is zero doubt that illegal aliens pour literally billions into the economy in purchased goods/services and yes taxes.
Sorry PFA - studies have shown that the average illegal alien family consumes over $1,000,000 more in social services than they pay in taxes during their lifetime.
Maybe the businesses that you dream up can afford losing a million bucks per unit but I don't think that's a good idea for our already bankrupt nation.
Really? What "studies" are those? Because that is a ROYAL CROCK. The only "social services" that illegal immigrants can use are medical if there is an emergency and they use the emergency room. They cannot get unemployment, food stamps, medicare, or Social Security, just to name a few "social services". And that includes education because if an illegal immigrant family is living in a school district, they are paying to use those schools through property taxes. Either through homes they own, or homes they rent were the owner pays the taxes, from their rent. A MILLION DOLLARS? On what?!!!!
What part of 'illegal' is giving you difficulty???
http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/taxes.asp
Sure they can… and they do get public assistance… they buy SS cards, drivers licenses, green cards, etc… and if they have kids here… then the kids get public assistance. Anyone who believes that ILLEGAL immigrants are not a drain on the US economy (not saying the only drain, but they are a drain) is delusional.
Deport them and all their babies born here…
I see the communists are ganging up on McCain again. What about Obama with his fake birth certificate, SSN that will not let him work in the USA. Lets not forget Benghazi. McCain is a piker compared to Obama...the worst President in the history of the USA.
They all neeg to go. Let's see, they're here illegally and get,drivers licenses,gov't benefits and now amnesty. What kind of example are we setting for our kids. You know, the kids Obama is so worried about. All he's teaching them is that if you break the law and can vote all is good and forgiven. Great values to teach our kids. Enforce the laws and deport. This is what the people want. Remember Obama, you work for us and not the other way around.
the people want to be a voice is totally wrong, you cant get benifits and you cant get drivers lincense with out proper paper work. what kind of example are you setting to say you are the peoples voice. when its your own false opinion.
Truth,
I suggest you check out Illinois and Arizona regarding that. They have both passed laws allowing illegals to get a drivers license. I live in Illinois ,so don't tell me they can't get a drivers license. Please wake up and see what is going on.
so if they passed laws for them to get it then it wasnt illlegal
They are still illegal by being here. Does that escape you? Passing a law allowing ILLEGALS to get a license doesn't make an illegal suddenly legal. It's a ploy just to get votes. I have a hunch one of them are involved in a fatal car crash you'd never find them in the country. They should not be able to get a license or anything else for that matter. They don't belong here. You don't seem to understand that.
truthfinder2… yes you can… and they do… they BUY the ID's!!!!! and/or they have kids here and the kids get the benefits. Illegals come here KNOWING how to bend the laws, navigate the loop holes and get around the red tape.
Truth, I believe that you were thinking about New Mexico not Arizona. Here is a link for Arizona's ID requirements to get an Arizona drivers licence. It could be very difficult for an illegal alien to get an authentic Arizona drivers licence. New Mexico at one time would issue a DL to illegal aliens but they have stopped that practice.
http://mvd.azdot.gov/mvd/formsandpub/viewPDF.asp?lngProductKey=1410&lngFormInfoKey=1410
hows is it that 1,442 people surveyed speak for all america if i am not mistaken these same polls stated that rommeny would be the next president. i guess they know what america wants. and by the way there are more blacks and whites on welfare then hispanics , because they all work. and most pay there taxes legally. in the news you see only whites or blacks being sent to prison for not paying taxes. you guys all ave opinons but no truth to them. these people do jobs you guys are too lazy or picky to do. anybody should work to support their family so go out and do this work and waiting for that dream job. i guarantee if you search the facts you will see they give to the american dream. the only thing thats on here is flat out bigotry and race haters. who spread lies
You are mistaken. Reuters had no polls out on the presidential race in the last month before the election, and the average of all polls had the election tied, not Romney winning or stating they knew he would win.
Nice made up BS though, thanks.
My wife is from Mexico , and i have had to wait 3- years before she joined me here. Let send them all back, and we will see how many of them will qualified to come over here leggaly.
Silly people! Do you really believe " we the people" have anything to do with what is enforced or not in this country! Wake up smell that smell? It's the order from Washington DC......stink. It's been getting worse as the years go by. Especially the last four. Some actually think it smells good!
The reality? Illegal Immigration is NEVER an issue when the economy is booming. In fact, it is encouraged by BOTH conservatives and liberals who like the flow of cheap labor that is not subject to the normal laws that American wage earners work under. Including overtime, benefits, etc.
My impression also. But with some it's allways an issue. Just not politically correct. Washington seems to swing in the direction of what will get votes. It's good to be in the elite in DC a very select club that controls this country with their BS. That's the stink.
I am an american tax payer that was born in ft rucker alabama and i am 100% not racist as my mother is black and my father is white, and my parents went through hell when they got together in 1955. I am now 52 and had to stop working due to 3 medical conditions with the worst beieng cancer, I am on social security now but must wait 2 years before getting medicaid that I paid taxes for 35 years. I lost my medical when I had too leave my job, but we let all these illegals come to the u.s. and we hand them a medical card and food stamps and housing while tax payers like myself and millions of others get S*#@ on. so now i cannot pay for my continued cancer treatments therefore i will most likely die soon, and i won't go on a payment plan so that my family will be left with the burden of paying all the medical bills after i am dead. so thanks all you F*#%ing illegals that think we owe you! I say kick these illegals out of here now so that my government can help the u.s. citizens that paid for it.
thank you Obama and a useless and inept congress, are you listening to JJJ? Pathetic. We need to fire them all...
Welcome to the U.S., I feel your pain, I know several people who have endured, fought and lost every thing you're talking about. The two year waiting law was decided in 1942, and it's about time they re-examine their books, especially for people such as yourself who really need it. I wish you well...
Our government disgusts me, and lawmakers should be ashamed, maybe someone will notice your cry for help, and do something about it.