http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PoliticalInsider/79056lA newly released telephone survey has found that more than two-thirds of those polled favor the state's tough, wide-ranging immigration
measure. But it also found that more than half of those questioned were worried that Senate Bill 1070 could lead to civil rights violations.
The legislation, passed by the Arizona Senate on Monday, is in the hands of Governor Jan Brewer. She has not yet indicated whether she will sign it, veto it, or do nothing and allow it to become law. She has until the end of the day Saturday to take action.
The new poll, which was released Wednesday morning, was conducted by Rasmussen Reports, a New Jersey-based public opinion polling firm that routinely keeps tabs on voter sentiment in a variety of political races and issues around the country.
The firm polled 500 "likely" voters on April 15.
The survey asked if respondents if they "favor or oppose legislation that authorized local police to stop and verify the immigration status
of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant."
Of those surveyed, 70 percent said they favored it, 23 percent said they opposed it, and 6 percent said they were unsure.
Pollsters also asked respondents "how concerned" they were that efforts "to identify and deport illegal immigrants will also end up violating the civil rights of some U.S. citizens."
Of the 500 individuals surveyed, 53 percent said they were either "very concerned" or "somewhat" concerned.
Another 28 percent said they were "not very" concerned. Eighteen percent said they were "not at all concerned" and 1 percent said they were "not sure."
The immigration measure has landed Arizona squarely in the spotlight of a heated and ongoing debate over immigration reform.
The bill, among other things, makes it a crime to be in the country illegally and requires local law enforcement to determine an individual's legal status if there is reasonable suspicion if he or she is in the U.S. illegally.
Brewer has been mum on her feelings on the legislation, but her would-be opponents in the gubernatorial race are now speaking up.
Leading GOP contenders businessman Owen "Buz" Mills, State Treasurer Dean Martin and former Board of Regents President John Munger have all said they are in favor of the bill's passage.
All are challenging Brewer in what is expected to be a contentious Republican primary late this summer.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Terry Goddard said Monday that he opposes the legislation.
The immigration bill is likely to have a lasting impact on the upcoming election process, according to the Rasmussen Reports poll.
The firm says that 83 percent of Arizona voters say a candidate's position on immigration is an important factor in how they will vote, according to previous surveys it has conducted.
Today's poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level.
--Ginger Rough