As the U.S. House ponders whether or not to pass the immigration reform bill supported by the Gang of Eight that passed the Senate at the end of June, a new national poll finds likely voters remain divided on immigration.
Rasmussen Reports released a poll on Tuesday which finds a slight majority of likely voters -- 53 percent -- believe securing the border is more important than legalizing undocumented workers currently living in the United States. The poll shows 36 percent of those surveyed think it is more important to legalize undocumented workers than to secure the border.
The poll finds a clear partisan divide on the issue with 74 percent of Republicans and 61 percent of independents but only 30 percent of Democrats thinking it was more important to secure the border. A majority of Democrats -- 56 percent -- believe legalizing undocumented workers is more important than securing the border. Only 31 percent of independents and 18 percent of Republicans believe legalizing undocumented workers is more important than border security.
The poll finds a majority of those surveyed -- 57 percent -- believe America should welcome all immigrants besides criminals, those looking to live on welfare benefits and security threats. A quarter of those surveyed -- 25 percent -- disagree with this goal.
The overwhelming majority of voters -- 76 percent -- believe people should prove they are legally allowed in the United States before getting welfare or other government services and benefits. Only 14 percent of those surveyed disagree with this policy.
The poll also finds a majority -- 56 percent -- do not think children born in the United States to illegal immigrants should be granted automatic citizenship. Less than a third -- 32 percent -- believe children born in the United States to illegal aliens should become citizens because of where they were born.
A majority of those surveyed -- 53 percent -- have some concerns the federal government will violate constitutional rights of American citizens as they look to find and deport illegal aliens. But 47 percent are not concerned about constitutional violations regarding finding and deporting illegal aliens.
As the House continues to wrestle with the Senates immigration reform bill, the poll finds few voters have much faith it will do much. Only 28 percent of those surveyed believe the Senate bill will secure the border and cut down on illegal immigration if passed.
The poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Aug. 1-2 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
