Most Americans favor letting illegal immigrants become citizens, poll finds (criminals excluded)

LA Times ^ | 6/12/07 | Janet Hook

[BurbankKarl]

A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favors allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

That is a striking show of support for the central tenet of legislation that has stalled in the Senate amid vocal opposition from conservatives to provisions allowing such a path to citizenship.

Only 23% of adults surveyed opposed allowing immigrants to become legal. That bolsters the view, shared by President Bush, that the bill's opponents represent a vocal minority, whereas most people are more welcoming toward illegal immigrants.

"They are willing to take jobs that our people aren't interested in, and I think this helps the economy," Joseph Simpkins, a retired dry cleaner in New Jersey who participated in the survey, said in a follow-up interview. "As long as they pay taxes, I see nothing wrong with having them become citizens

...(buried at bottom)

The survey question specified that, under the proposal, citizenship would be available only to those who register their presence in the U.S., have no criminal record, pay a fine, get fingerprinted and learn English, among other requirements.

[Sloth]

Uh, they’re ALL criminals, aside from minor children brought by adults.

[Cacique]

This is not over yet. Bush refuses to give up this easily. It's his stubborn character. He will try to resurrect it and call it something else. We have to keep our guard up. We need to keep the pressure up.

STAGE TWO is to go after the people who hire illegals. Start giving them fines and arresting them. Just catch ten or 100 of them on the nightly news. The magnet will dry up and most of the 12 million will go home by themselves.

As an addendum, we should anonymously call the IRS, people working "off the books" means taxes ain't being paid. Make anonymous fliers and hang them around the neighborhood, name names. It's time to embarrass these bustards, whether they give to the GOP or Rats, we don't need them.

CALL! CALL! CALL! CALL! AND KEEP CALLING TILL THE LINES FRY!

WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!

Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti illegal immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them. This is a bipartisan issue not a Conservative or Liberal issue BUT AN AMERICAN issue.

STOP AMNESTY NOW!! WE CAN DO IT!!

The best way to stop Shamnesty

[ruination]

[tophat9000]

Bottom line.. this poll is pure bullshit and everyone knows it

[ExSES]

A strong majority of Americans — including nearly two-thirds of Republicans — favors allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens if they pay fines, learn English and meet other requirements, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

That is just the "BAIT"..., the "SWITCH" takes place later..., when judges rule that the "STRINGS" are unfare and inhumane! Sorry..., but I have seen this play before!

[Pelham]

These would be the same Americans who think Elvis is still alive.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Actually, most of them are paying FICA, and they’re covered by Worker’s Comp.

They are on the W-2 payroll at most companies. They’re just using someone else’s Social.

[Boiling point]

Was that the pole that asked,”Would you rather have illegal immigrants be given amnesty, or have Hillary as President?”

[Hostage]

First sentence tells all:

“LA Times/Bloomberg”

In other news La Repubblica reports that most Romans agree that Benedictus is the Pope.

[healy61]

Well put. I have never never spoken to anyone who says illegal immigrants should be made citizens. Never. Not one time. Not once.

[healy61]

Well put. I have never never spoken to anyone who says illegal immigrants should be made citizens. Never. Not one time. Not once.

[One_American]

That’s why they have zero desire to learn English or assimilate; it’s also why they won’t want to pay fines and jump through all the hoops of the bill. As long as there’s no real border security and no real employer enforcement, there is no incentive for illegals to change their standard operating procedure.

I agree 100%. Mo matter what legislation is passed, if it inconveniences the interlopers even in the slightest bit, they will have nothing to do with it. It will be business as usual. We need to build the wall, start enforcing meaningful fines against employers of illegal aliens. If a serious effort was put forth a vast majority of them will deport themselves within a few years.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Exactly. We may want to make a public demonstration of deome deportations—a token gesture to show we mean business. But that would only be effective AFTER the fence is built and the border secure. Otherwise, these guys will be right back.

But once the employers know that we are serious and they will suffer severe penalties for keeping illegals on the payroll, we won’t need to spend the billions to deport the illegals. They’re going to leave on their own, if they know that the rules have changed.

[Choose Ye This Day]

“deome” should be “some”

(fat finger syndrome)

[Dov in Houston]

My A$$ Deport all of them

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just say NO to Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[Arrowhead1952]

[Smokin' Joe]

If they are here illegally, leave. GTF out.

Come back through the proper channels, learn English, become an American.

Felons need not apply.

If we need to increase the quota, we can, but none of this pap means diddley-squat if we don't secure the borders.

Failure to do so will be the end of this country.

[truthkeeper]

The L.A. Times tries again, with the usual results. Hilarious.

[dirtboy]

This is a push poll, pure and simple.

Re-word the questions and you will get a strong majority who would be in favor of creating situations to encourage illegals to self-deport. In polls such as this one, there usually is a false dichotomy presented between amnesty and mass deportation, when a clear middle path is available.