New Poll Confirms the Divide between Hisapanics and Other Americans

The most recent poll confirms earlier findings regarding the disconnect between Hispanics and other Americans on immigration reform. The pollster however, cautions against reading too much into this early support for CIR — given that the poll didn’t test the language that opponents of comprehensive immigration reform would use. In addition, he points out that only 19 percent of all adults say they strongly favor the legislation, which suggests soft support.

Until the polls do a better job of pinning down the details of immigration reform in a way that the average person can understand, the results of such polls will be suspect. For example, "allowing undocumented immigrants who are already in the country to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become American citizens" was viewed strongly or somewhat favorably by 65% of the respondents. However, the meaning of the phrase "go to the back of the line" is obscure and this may have affected how the respondents chose to answer that query. If it meant return to your homeland and stay there at the back of the line until your number comes up, that would elicit a strong positive response. If, however, it meant remain in this country and go to the back of the line, that might generate a different response.

Some language that opponents of the Hispanic version of CIR would like to see tested include the following:

--allow illegal aliens already in the country to receive a work visa only if they pay a fine of around five thousand dollars, pay back taxes, and pass a criminal
background check and, in addition, only if an employer can present irrefutable evidence that he or she cannot fill the job with a legal U.S. resident.

--the U.S. population is expected to double again by the end of this century. Which of the following do you believe are causes of population growth:
--high immigration quotas
--chain immigrations
--anchor babies
--14th amendment instant citizens
--legal immigrants
--illegal aliens
--the higher fertility rates of immigrants
--the children of immigrants
--the fertility rate of citizens
--a tax policy that favors larger families

--which of the following do you believe will be the result of population growth
--a long wait for access to national parks and monuments
--a lower standard of living
--a lesser quality of life
--a shortage of finite natural resources like water, arable land, & minerals
--more polluted air and water
--a greater demand for energy - nuclear, wind, solar, coal, oil, gas
--crowding and congestion on highways and streets

--do you strongly agree, somewhat agree,somewhat disagree, strongly disagree, or not sure about the following statement:

-- "It is difficult to imagine a more irrational and self-defeating legal system than one which makes unauthorized entry into this country a criminal offense and simultaneously provides for birthright citizenship under the 14th amendment which is perhaps the greatest possible inducement to illegal entry."

--Hispanics and other Americans strongly disagree with each other about immigration reforms. Which of the following do you believe to be the root causes of this diagreement:

--racism
--ethnocentrism
--nativism
--bigotry
--differing views about population growth
--differing views about increased pollution
--differing views increased energy demands
--the costs of social services, education, health care, and welfare
--the national debt
--crime
--corruption
--oligarchy
--the national character
--the national language
--the national interest
--national security
--national unity
--xenophobia
--nationalism