63% Back Citizenship Path for Illegal Immigrants

Thursday, March 21, 2013

The majority of Americans favor giving millions of illegal immigrants a way to earn citizenship, according to a survey released on Thursday, highlighting public support for efforts in Congress to reform immigration law. In the Public Religion Research Institute poll, 63 percent of Americans said they supported a path to citizenship for undocumented foreigners if they meet certain requirements. "Republicans, a couple of years ago, were holding the line against a path to citizenship... Now, there have been more Republican (lawmakers) talking about a middle option," said Robert Jones, the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute.

Posted by rcade at 04:00 PM | 34 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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rcade

Joined 2003/04/04
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Is public opinion 'evolving' on this issue? Or are we simply seeing another manifestation of political expediency in the face of changing demographics?

Personally, I will not believe that there has been any change until Congress enacts legislation. Anything short of that is just empty talk for the masses.

On another note, I take satisfaction in seeing the gradual shift in perception on this issue. I have been outspoken about the issue from my first days on the DR, when I was in a minority so small that not even Danni would take the side of the undocumented.

#1 | Posted by moder8 at 2013-03-21 04:11 PM | Reply | Flag:

"On another note, I take satisfaction in seeing the gradual shift in perception on this issue. I have been outspoken about the issue from my first days on the DR, when I was in a minority so small that not even Danni would take the side of the undocumented."

I remember, I have evolved on immigration, that's for sure.

#2 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-21 04:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

Fine. Let's make them all 63% legal then.

Mexican-Americans might even enjoy some added benefits not being all the way Americans. It's hard to get a dual passport, etc., you know?

Hell, I'd consider taking that deal my ownself about now.. and the 37% of me that gets sick will do it as a Mexican. So, Obama's care might not apply to the 63%-ers either.

#3 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 04:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

I don't believe it.

The polls are subjectively designed for a specific outcome benefiting an issue, and even if the questions aren't obvious, who among us can say they are honest? Is there a law on the books that says polls must be fully audited and honest or else?

The only remaining certainty in America is that institutional ethics have been replaced with manipulated expectations. Nothing is real, nothing is honest and everything is fabricated and orchestrated perceptions are the new reality.

When it comes the presentment of issues in America the only tact taken for certain is that expected outcomes will be better compensated than unexpected, and that will thus justify any methodology.

Illegal immigration has been understated by politicians since Reagan. It is in their interest to under count them.

#4 | Posted by Robson at 2013-03-21 04:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

In other words, don't worry!

After we're done messing things up, up here, Mexicans won't want to come from, down there.

Cross the border "legally" and Whamo! the IRS will playing gothca for healthcare coverage from then on.

Who from Mexico would want that?

#5 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 04:25 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Okay, you can all come in now. It's all good", said America.

"Hah, who'd want to?", replied the new free World.

#6 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 04:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

If that many Hispanics are given the vote, the Republican party will will have to adopt the doors "The End" as their theme song, so it will never happen. They will promise, for the next election, but it won't happen.

"This is the end
My only friend, the end

Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand
In a...desperate land

The west is the best
Get here, and we'll do the rest

It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me

The End"

- from "The End"

#7 | Posted by HeliumRat at 2013-03-21 05:13 PM | Reply | Flag:

Amazing how one can break our laws and as a reward earn citizenship. We should be talking about a path to legal residency, but citizenship and the right to vote, that's madness.

#8 | Posted by danv at 2013-03-21 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Amazing how one can break our laws and as a reward earn citizenship. We should be talking about a path to legal residency, but citizenship and the right to vote, that's madness.

#8 | POSTED BY DANV

Indeed. And what of the millions? of permanent residents from SE Asia? Do they all get an upgrade too?

Or will this be a Mexican-only-un-illegal-izing-
law?

Oh boy, I don't even know what to call the consequences of this. To call them unintended consequences would not, technically, be accurate. No. About half of us actually intend the consequences, however unintended they may prove to be. So thinking they are unintended consequences would be an intentionally dishonest consequence, wouldn't it?

So alas. I will just sit back and watch as the world continues to change.

#9 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 05:25 PM | Reply | Flag:

..."Republican Outreach"...

...oxymoron, or latest obscure pop-culture gay sex reference...?

...discuss...

...LOL...

#10 | Posted by 1EyedMan at 2013-03-21 06:01 PM | Reply | Flag:

No, but pollsters love to call out the flaws in other pollsters. For example the "Rasmussen-free maps" over at electoral-vote.com.

Polls can clearly be designed to get a desired result, and that's why poll reports are very detailed in terms of what questions were asked, how questions were randomized, and so forth. There is a lot of science behind it.

What happens very often is someone decides to do a poll then hires some statistician to interpret the data. The statistician then has to tell the pollster that their poll is invalid or of very limited use because of flaws in the design and implementation.

I've never heard of the "Public Religion Research Institute" that conducted this poll so you'd have to read the whole report to find out if it's good data (by which I mean was the poll conducted in accord with standards).

#11 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-21 07:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

Amazing how one can break our laws and as a reward earn citizenship.

What's amazing about that?
One can break our laws and become incredibly rich, for example the governor of Florida.
From a business perspective breaking the law is simply a cost-benefit analysis with some risk factor of getting caught sprinkled in.
You think non-citizens are too stupid to figure this out? LOL

#12 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-21 07:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

Did they ask the question in english?

#13 | Posted by wisgod at 2013-03-21 07:46 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Amazing how one can break our laws and as a reward earn citizenship. We should be talking about a path to legal residency, but citizenship and the right to vote, that's madness."

What's more amazing is how big international corporations can get laws changed in both the US and Mexico, destroy thousands of family farms which had supported families for many decades, then promise the workers who lost their farms because of it jobs in factories, then outsource those jobs to China and then you look at the workers as the bad guy because they came here to do jobs you don't want to do yourself and for less money than you would work for because they need to feed the people back home any way they can. As the Mexican economy has improved many illegals have returned to Mexico, this is really just a struggle for survival for many of these people. When it gets to the survival level I don't think the normal observance of laws mean very much, and it wouldn't for you either if you were in their shoes.

#14 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-21 07:54 PM | Reply | Flag:

"...promise the workers who lost their farms because of it jobs in factories, then outsource those jobs to China and then you look at the workers as the bad guy because they came here to do jobs you don't want to do yourself and for less money than you would work for because they need to feed the people back home any way they..."

#14 | POSTED BY ISN'T IT OBVIOUS WHO POSTED IT?

Damn it man, enough with the pious, self-excluding hyperbole already. You are one of us, too.

You yourself won't do the jobs either. And you yourself buy gas, eat bread, wear shoes, and trim your nose hairs just like the rest of us. So stop with the smug, high-horse BS okay?

It's your dogma that fills our ears. And your points, such as they exist at all, shall never make it through until you start being a little more honest.

#15 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 08:10 PM | Reply | Flag:

When it gets to the survival level I don't think the normal observance of laws mean very much

This is certainly the case at the corporate level.

It also applies to the extremely poor. England made theft of bread punishable by hanging back in the 1600s. People still stole bread. The risk of getting caught and executed was a better bet than the risk of surely starving to death.

About the only people who follow the laws are the middle class.

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-21 09:39 PM | Reply | Flag:

"When it gets to the survival level I don't think the normal observance of laws mean very much, and it wouldn't for you either if you were in their shoes."

Maybe, maybe not, but I can tell u if illegally entered the US I would not have the nerve to ask for citizenship.

The only reason you libs' PRETEND TO CARE about illegal aliens and immigrants is that you know it means more votes, and hence more federal government power to control people lives - period.

#17 | Posted by danv at 2013-03-21 10:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

The only reason you libs' PRETEND TO CARE about illegal aliens and immigrants is that you know it means more votes, and hence more federal government power to control people lives - period.

I can't speak for others, but the reason I care about illegal aliens is because I am opposed to treating human beings like garbage.

#18 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-21 11:04 PM | Reply | Flag:

So by not granting citizenship, we are treating the illegal immigrants and aliens as garbage? Could you please elaborate Snoofy, 'cause I don't see it.

P.S.- sorry for directly referring to you as lib, I shouldn't pigeon people.

#19 | Posted by danv at 2013-03-21 11:16 PM | Reply | Flag:

So by not granting citizenship, we are treating the illegal immigrants and aliens as garbage? Could you please elaborate Snoofy, 'cause I don't see it.

What do you see when people are kept in jail indefinitely while awaiting deportation? Why not just deport them immediately or let them be with their families?

#20 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-21 11:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

I can't speak for others, but the reason I care about illegal aliens is because I am opposed to treating human beings like garbage.

#18 | POSTED BY SNOOFY

And you really don't speak for many. No country in the world would accept Snoofy as an illegal alien.

I guess you're just a better person to allow it?

#21 | Posted by brilliantbart at 2013-03-21 11:34 PM | Reply | Flag:

"What do you see when people are kept in jail indefinitely while awaiting deportation? Why not just deport them immediately or let them be with their families?"

I agree, deport them right away. But we do have due process in this country, so some amount of detaining is necessary (don't wanna deport someone who is a citizen or legal).

Are you saying there are people who have been held for years in a INS facility and/or jail and have never had a trial to determine the sentence? I have never heard of that.

#22 | Posted by danv at 2013-03-21 11:55 PM | Reply | Flag:

I have never heard of that.

Curious, what have you heard beyond THEY TOOK OUR JEEEERRBS?

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-22 12:21 AM | Reply | Flag:

I wonder if you dems would back instant citizenship for 12-20 million Australians, Swedish, Dutch, Germans, Japanese, Swiss, Canadians, Finish, New Zealanders, etc?

#24 | Posted by manuesstonedar at 2013-03-22 01:00 AM | Reply | Flag:

I guess I'm among the 37% that doesn't believe in a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. A path to legalization: absolutely! Then they should follow the path that all other legal immigrants follow to obtain citizenship.

#25 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2013-03-22 05:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

I think the fact that they are here is inconsequential at this point...we should certainly be looking at ways to curtail more illegal entry to this country. We do not really have or should commit the resources to try and rid every illegal in this country. Like every group, you have with the illegals, those who are very committed to this country and work and you have the criminal lot and just the sorry who make welfare a career... this country encourages government benefit programs as a career path...
I think there should be a program to 'earn' citizenship... first, registration without fear of deportment (the exception being felony history)... A monitoring program to see that the registrant is gainfully employed, pays taxes and commits no felonies...a five-year plan should be sufficient... For those, like many citizens, who are unemployed, but can prove work history since being in this country...there should be special provisions of accepting employment at the first real opportunity.
I have to agree with others that these are humans...we allowed this to go on for a long time without real enforcement and like a lot of other things that are wacky with this government, a precedence has been set and even though, 'yes', their entry is illegal, we have permitted that with a turned head of enforcement, so at this point, it makes better sense to establish a program of citizenship... If a person will work, pay taxes and stay within the law, we really do not have a good reason to turn them away... I personally know a lot of illegals who will give you a better day's work and are lots more loyal and honest than a lot of the 'freeloaders' who make government handouts a career...
I would gladly swap those on the 'freeloading' wagon to deport and keep the man or woman who does not mind working and paying taxes...!!!

#26 | Posted by drsoul at 2013-03-22 09:00 AM | Reply | Flag:

#25 I agree with your nuance there. It is important to realize that would still be a path to citizenship.

#27 | Posted by HeuristicGratis at 2013-03-22 09:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing this will guarantee is a huge swell of new illegals coming to the US knowing full well that in a few more years, they will also get their citizenship. Meanwhile, this new class of illegal-illegals will undercut the wages of the legal-illegals causing an unprecedented strain on our welfare programs as a vast majority of the illegals have no advanced skills, much less a high school education so they will be out of the labor intensive jobs. This could be countered by actually enforcing the border or punishing employers, but we know both policies are racist and the ACLU and Obama will ensure neither are actually done. What will be the most funny will be a huge exodus of illegals from CA and TX to the fracking states - a lot are willing to do hard labor....the ones remaining in those states will be the deadenders....horrible policy. I would bet South Dakota will be 50% Hispanic in 10 years if this policy goes through.

#28 | Posted by Jacque_Strap at 2013-03-22 01:57 PM | Reply | Flag:

The other half of our policy that would need to be addressed is stop making anyone born here a citizen.
Instead citizenship is conveyed from another citizen, either from parent or by marrying a citizen.

#29 | Posted by snoofy at 2013-03-22 05:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

It is important to realize that would still be a path to citizenship.

You're right but it might be an easier sell if the word citizenship was not mentioned in the bill. And, except for the legalization part, it would not appear as if the illegals were getting favored treatment.

#30 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2013-03-22 05:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

Another 'poll', that I am sure is (someway, maybe {or not}) accurate.

#31 | Posted by MSgt at 2013-03-23 12:29 AM | Reply | Flag:

Illegals:
The total verifiable cost to taxpayers is at least a whopping...
338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

#32 | Posted by Greatamerican at 2013-03-23 03:34 AM | Reply | Flag:

I support some sort of amnesty. However if you feel bad for those who earn LEDs then 10,000 a year, we are talking some 4 billion people.

We MUST have immigration limits

#33 | Posted by DavetheWave at 2013-03-23 06:21 AM | Reply | Flag:

What we have is a "Vote Swap" in D.C. between our so-called "elected representatives" oon one hand and illegal immigrant advocates and their constituencies oon the other.

Our craven politicians will vote for "a pathway to citizenship" for illegals and the illegals who become citizens will then vote for those same politicians seeking their "path to increased power.

The American citizen is totally left out of any negotiations. We are only here to pick up the tab.

#34 | Posted by Kissntell at 2013-03-23 09:08 AM | Reply | Flag: