Poll sheds light on attitudes toward immigration
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - Most Arizonans believe that the immigration of the last few years has been bad for the country, according to a new statewide poll.
The survey done by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University, also shows Arizonans would prefer to spend more money to limit the flow of border crossers than to integrating new immigrants into society. Conversely, few want to provide social services for undocumented immigrants.
But Kristi Hagen, the laboratory's interim director, said Arizona residents are more evenly divided over whether the country needs at least some of those who cross the border illegally. She pointed out that slightly more than half of those questioned like the concept being pushed by President Bush to let some people not in this country legally remain for some time if they perform jobs not desired by U.S. citizens.
She also said there is sentiment among a sizeable portion of Arizonans that the state needs policies to help integrate entrants into society.
For example, she said, a bare majority of Arizonans believe the state should spend more to help those entrants who want to apply for legal residence.
And the said people are almost evenly divided over the question of whether the state should spend additional sums to help those who came to this country illegally learn English.
"Arizonans are really conflicted," Hagen said.
The one thing that is clear, she said, is that Arizonans want the border with Mexico secured. Close to 85 percent of those asked said more money should be spent on border enforcement, versus only 10 percent opposed.
She said that is why there is strong support for the additional Border Patrol officers who are supposed to be coming to Arizona, as well as the Minuteman Project of civilian volunteers who are patrolling along a stretch in southeast Arizona.
Hagen noted, though, there is somewhat less support for spending taxpayer dollars to deport those captured back to their home countries.
The survey of 423 adults was conducted in late March and has a margin of error of 4.8 percent.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/68798.php
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - Most Arizonans believe that the immigration of the last few years has been bad for the country, according to a new statewide poll.
The survey done by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University, also shows Arizonans would prefer to spend more money to limit the flow of border crossers than to integrating new immigrants into society. Conversely, few want to provide social services for undocumented immigrants.
But Kristi Hagen, the laboratory's interim director, said Arizona residents are more evenly divided over whether the country needs at least some of those who cross the border illegally. She pointed out that slightly more than half of those questioned like the concept being pushed by President Bush to let some people not in this country legally remain for some time if they perform jobs not desired by U.S. citizens.
She also said there is sentiment among a sizeable portion of Arizonans that the state needs policies to help integrate entrants into society.
For example, she said, a bare majority of Arizonans believe the state should spend more to help those entrants who want to apply for legal residence.
And the said people are almost evenly divided over the question of whether the state should spend additional sums to help those who came to this country illegally learn English.
"Arizonans are really conflicted," Hagen said.
The one thing that is clear, she said, is that Arizonans want the border with Mexico secured. Close to 85 percent of those asked said more money should be spent on border enforcement, versus only 10 percent opposed.
She said that is why there is strong support for the additional Border Patrol officers who are supposed to be coming to Arizona, as well as the Minuteman Project of civilian volunteers who are patrolling along a stretch in southeast Arizona.
Hagen noted, though, there is somewhat less support for spending taxpayer dollars to deport those captured back to their home countries.
The survey of 423 adults was conducted in late March and has a margin of error of 4.8 percent.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/68798.php