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The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that more than 7 million illegal immigrants are currently living in the country. A recent report by the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants at 10.3 million. While California is home to most workers, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina have the greatest rates of increase.
In January 2004, U.S. president George W. Bush tabled his proposal for a major overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. The plan includes a "temporary worker program" that would grant legal status to undocumented workers, who would pay taxes, be required to return to their home country after three years, and receive no special preference if they decide to apply for permanent citizenship. 61 per cent of respondents say illegal immigrants who are already living and working in the U.S. should be offered a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status.
On Dec. 16, Bush commended the House of Representatives for passing "a strong immigration reform bill," adding, "America is a nation built on the rule of law, and this bill will help us protect our borders and crack down on illegal entry into the United States." 79 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. is not doing enough to keep illegal immigrants from entering.
Polling Data
Overall, do you think illegal immigrants do more to help the country, or do more to hurt the country?
Hurt | 56% |
Help | 37% |
Neither | 5% |
No opinion | 2% |
Do you think illegal immigrants who are living and working in the United States now should be offered a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status, or do you think they should be deported back to their native country?
Dec. 2005 | Aug. 2005 | Jan. 2005 | |
Offered a chance to keep jobs | 61% | 55% | 61% |
Deported to native country | 38% | 42% | 36% |
No opinion | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Do you think the United States is or is not doing enough to keep illegal immigrants from coming into this country?
Dec. 2005 | Aug. 2005 | Jan. 2005 | |
Doing enough | 20% | 19% | 20% |
Not doing enough | 79% | 80% | 77% |
No opinion | 2% | 1% | 4% |
