Immigration is a national issue and while enforcement of immigration law is the domain of federal agencies, an increasing number of state and local governments are finding ways to put their local police forces on the case. The New York Times reports some communities are using statutes written for other purposes – for example, fighting identity theft and regulating fishing - to crack down on illegals. Another strategy: new state laws aimed at undocumented immigrants. Of the 1,562 measures reportedly proposed last year, 240 became law – three times as many as the previous year.

Seventy-seven percent of participants in our spring Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index survey said they worry "a lot" or "somewhat" that it may be too easy for illegal immigrants to enter the country. Eighty-seven percent thought tighter controls on immigration would enhance national security either "a great deal" or "somewhat."

A May 2008 Pew poll of voters found 86 percent said the issue of immigration will be "very important" or "somewhat important" in determining their vote for president in November. Several other surveys this year show that when asked to choose between immigration and other issues as the single most important factor, voters were more likely to choose the economy or Iraq. Immigration was pointed to as the single most important issue by 9 percent in a Quinnipiac poll; 7 percent in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll and 3 percent in a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics survey.

For more on immigration, check out our issue guide and "Now That I'm Here," a Public Agenda report on immigrants' own opinions.