Pew Poll on immigration reform, birthright citizenship and Arizona's law.

[pampango]

Illegal Immigration

Most Americans support stricter enforcement of immigration laws and tighter border security. But among Tea Party Republicans support for tougher immigration measures is virtually universal – 98% favor stronger enforcement of immigration laws.

Nearly as many (94%) favor Arizona’s tough immigration law, which is tied up in court. The law requires police to verify the legal status of someone they have already stopped or arrested if they suspect that the person is in the country illegally. Nearly six-in-ten Tea Party Republicans (58%) favor changing the constitution to bar citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal immigrants. Majorities of Democrats (67%) and non-Tea Party Republicans (55%) oppose changing the constitution for this purpose.

The public generally supports a two-fold approach to illegal immigration: a 42% plurality says the priority should be both better border security and stronger enforcement of immigration laws and creating a way for illegal immigrants who are already here to become citizens if they meet certain requirements. Nearly half of Democrats (48%) and non-Tea Party Republicans (46%) say that better border security and finding a way for people here illegally should be given equal priority.

But a substantial majority of Tea Party Republicans (67%) say better border security and stronger enforcement of existing laws should be the primary priority; just 23% favor a dual focus, with equal priority given to tougher security measures and a path to citizenship.

http://people-press.org/2011/10/07/strong-on-defense-and-israel-tough-on-china/

Nice to see that 63% overall (74% of Democrats and just 30% of teabaggers) support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants either as the main priority of immigration reform or as an equal priority with stronger enforcement measures. That indicates support for the comprehensive immigration reform proposals that have come from the Progressive Caucus.

Teabaggers love them some Arizona immigration law by 94% to 3%. (They probably support the laws in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and other republican states but those wasn't polled.) Democrats oppose it 54% to 43%.

Support for stronger enforcement goes across the board. Teabaggers love it (98% to 2%) but even Democrats support it by 71% to 27%.