A plurality of Americans do not want amnesty for illegal immigrants, according to a new Huffington Post/YouGov poll conducted on the eve of the midterm elections.
Respondents were asked, “Do you support or oppose providing a legal way for illegal immigrants already in the United States to become US citizens?”
Forty-six percent of Americans opposed a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, while 40% supported it. Thirteen percent were not sure.
A plurality of voters (44%) said it was “very important” that Congress “passes legislation in the next year dealing with immigration.” But the question did not mention a pathway to citizenship or work permits for illegal immigrants.
When asked about how much attention immigration has received in the midterm races, a majority (55%) said it received “too little attention from the candidates.” Twenty-six percent said immigration received “about the right amount of attention from candidates,” while 9% thought it received “too much attention from the candidates.”
Republican New Hampshire Senate candidate Scott Brown turned his race against Sen. Jeanne Shaheen into a dead heat after running against illegal immigration. Other Republicans, however, have been reluctant to take on the issue as aggressively, even though at least three national polls have found that voters are “less likely” to vote for candidates who support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
A Fox News poll found that 60% of Americans disapprove, revealing this is Obama’s worst issue in the midterm elections. And Obama delayed his planned and unpopular executive amnesty after Senate Democrats urged him to do so to help them retain control.
Though Republicans may win back Congress because Americans disapprove of Obama’s forthcoming executive amnesty, establishment Republicans, such as Mitt Romney, have insisted Republicans pass amnesty legislation if they win back Congress.
“You’re going to see a provision first of all to secure the border, second of all, to deal with those who have come here illegally and, third, to make sure our immigration policies are open and transparent to many people who do want to come here illegally. That’s going to happen,” Romney said on Fox News Sunday. “You’re going to see a bill actually reach the desk of the president, if we finally have someone besides Harry Reid sitting in the Senate.”
The Huffington Post/YouGov poll was conducted October 30-November 2, and its margin of error is +/- 3.8 percentage points.
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