On Immigration Policy, Wider Partisan Divide Over Border Fence Than Path to Legal Status

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On Immigration Policy, Wider Partisan Divide Over Border Fence Than Path to Legal Status

Pew Research Center

http://www.people-press.org/2015/10/08/on-immigration-policy-wider-partisan-divide-over-border-fence-than-path-to-legal-status/

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Broad Support for Providing Legal Status to Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented Immigrants Living in the U.S. who Meet Certain Requirements Should...The public’s views on how to handle undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has changed little since May. Currently, 74% say there should be a way for them to stay in the country legally, if certain requirements are met. About a quarter (24%) say undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the U.S. legally.

Most of those who favor providing legal status to people living in the U.S. illegally say they should be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship (47% of the public), while 24% say they should be able to apply for permanent residency, but not citizenship.

Since May, Republicans Have Become More Supportive of Path to Legal StatusAs in the past, majorities across all demographic and partisan groups favor providing legal status to undocumented immigrants. Republicans (66%) continue to be less likely than independents (74%) or Democrats (80%) to support a path to legal status for those in the U.S. illegally.

However, Republican support for finding a way to allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. if they meet certain requirements has increased 10 percentage points since May, from 56% to 66%. There has been virtually no change in opinion among Democrats or independents.



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