Immigration policy poll breaks stereotypes

[unixronin]

A new Rasmussen Reports poll finds that 58% of Americans polled favor and would support an immigration policy "that would welcome all immigrants except national security threats, criminals and those who would come here to live off our welfare system.”

Here's the really interesting detail:  That support for a "welcoming" immigration policy is stronger among declared Republicans than among declared Democrats.  The idea of a generally welcoming immigration policy, according to the poll, is opposed by 31% of unaffiliated and 28% of Democratic voters, but only by 19% of GOP voters.  How's that for a stereotype turned on its head?

Comments

[lebo-superman.livejournal.com]

Does the poll differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants? I'm one who welcomes anyone who follows existing law to come to our country the right way - - but I frown heavily on anyone who's very act of entering our country is a criminal one. If they are willing to break that law, how many others do they think "don't apply" to them, just because they don't like the laws?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

It does, yes. From the very first sentence of the article:

"While Americans continue to strongly support efforts that will slow or stop illegal immigration, most also still favor a generally welcoming policy of legal immigration."

(Emphasis mine.)