June 26, 2007

45% of Republicans support amnesty

Chris Reed says there is a huge public demand for a crackdown on illegal immigration, and illegal immigrants. The public, he says, does not want "comprehensive reform."

He bases his conclusion on a Washington Post story that tallies up the number of crackdown bills introduced in state Legislatures across the country. I'd suggest a better barometer would be the number of those bills that actually pass. But even that would be only half the story.

Poll after poll, in California and nationally, shows that people are ok with a "path to citizenship" for immigrants who are already in the country illegally. This is what the right commonly calls amnesty.

The latest was todays' release of the San Jose State University poll of Californians:

"In your opinion, should undocumented or illegal immigrants living or working here be allowed to become legal residents of California?"

adults: 57 percent yes, 33 percent no.
voters: 55 percent yes, 36 percent no.

Democrats: 66-25
Republicans: 45-48
Independents: 47-45

Posted by dweintraub on June 26, 2007 10:08 AM