A new CNN poll shows that support has grown to near-universal levels for an increase in security at the Mexican border — but at the same time, there is also wide support for some compromises on illegal immigration.
The poll found 88% support for putting more Border Patrol and federal law enforcement agents on the southern border, with only 12% against it. This is up from the already very high 74%-25% in October 2006. The poll of American adults has a ±3% margin of error.
A narrow majority also favored building a 700-mile fence on the border, with 54% in favor to 45% opposed. Back in May 2007, this was opposed by a margin of 45%-53%.
However, CNN also asked respondents whether they would favor “creating a program that would allow illegal immigrants already living in the United States for a number of years to stay here and apply to legally remain in this country permanently if they had a job and paid back taxes.” The answer was 80%-19% support, unchanged from May 2007.
The public’s priority is on cracking down, though. From this question: “What should be the main focus of the U.S. government in dealing with the issue of illegal immigration — developing a plan that would allow illegal immigrants who have jobs to become legal U.S. residents, or developing a plan for stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. and for deporting those already here?”
The answer was 38% for focusing on allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents, to 60% for focusing on stopping illegal immigration and deporting those here, compared to 41%-56% in December 2005.
It would also be wrongheaded for a politician to curtail legal immigration levels. “Americans want to crack down on illegal immigrants, but that same anger does not extend to immigrants who are in this country legally,” writes CNN polling director Keating Holland. The poll found that 65% favor keeping current legal immigration levels the same, to only 11% who want to decrease them, and 23% who want to see them increased.
