immigration

Voter's Survival Kit: Eight Things You Need to Know About Immigration

Scott Bittle — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:52:13 -0400

So whatever happened to immigration policy? It's been one of the nation's fiercest disputes for several years and a hot issue even during the primary season. Yet immigration never even came up during the presidential debates and even though the candidates may be shifting their positions, it isn't getting much media attention.

That's a shame, because it’s a topic many Americans feel passionate about – and it's not going away. The fact is that the last several attempts to fix the immigration laws haven't gone anywhere, but all the pressures and concerns about immigration are still there.

But one of the challenges in talking about immigration is that the debate usually brings more heat than light. So it helps to have a sense of the basic facts, which of course is what our Voter's Survival Kit is all about. For a complete rundown on the subject, including options for addressing the issue, have a look at our survival kit guide on "Immigration: Who Gets to Come, Who Gets to Stay."

In the meantime, here's eight key things you should know about immigration:

Six in 10 Americans believe that, in principle, immigration is a "good thing" for the country, but three-quarters (77 percent) worry that it may be too easy for illegal immigrants to come into the country.

The U.S. admits more than one million immigrants a year, and more than 12 percent of the U.S. population is foreign-born.

There are an estimated 11.7 million illegal or undocumented immigrants in the country. U.S. border agents say they apprehended over one million people in 2006.

Current laws emphasize family ties for admission, and most legal immigrants are, in fact, relatives of people already here.

Although legal immigration rates are historically high, they have fallen since the early 1990s.

More than half of immigrants settle in just four "gateway" states (California, Florida, New York and Texas). Increasingly, however, immigrants are moving to areas of the country with very little history of immigration.

More than half of illegal or undocumented immigrants come from Mexico and Central America.

Despite widespread dissatisfaction with the current immigration system, Congress was unable to pass compromise legislation in 2006, even though it had the support of leading Democrats and Republicans.

How do we know this? Here are our sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Foreign-Born Population; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics; Public Agenda, People's Chief Concerns on Immigration

At the Town Hall: Time for Real Issues

Scott Bittle — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:04:25 -0400

I admit it, I like the town hall-style presidential debates best. Over the years, the big advantage of the town hall debates is that the real people in the audience ask about real issues. We don't have the spectacle we saw during the primaries, where the journalist-moderators spend precious minutes relaying the charges-and-countercharges that the candidates themselves spend more of their time on. The presidential debate tonight will be in the town hall format, and if we’re lucky, the questions will be about things that really matter to voters.

That said, you can sit through a debate and still come out without learning anything about substantive issues. Despite the best efforts of Jim Lehrer and Gwen Ifill, the moderators of the first two debates, most candidates are well trained to answer the question they wish had been asked, rather than the one that was actually asked. At last week's vice presidential debate, if you listened carefully, pretty much all you would have learned about the economy was that Gov. Sarah Palin supported "reform" while Sen. Joseph Biden wanted to help "the middle class." Okay, now what?

There are actual options out there for dealing with the problems facing the country. It would be nice if the candidates took the opportunity to lay them out for the public. Since their record on that is pretty sketchy, Public Agenda has set out key facts and some options in our Voter's Survival Kit, which includes great resources and links on the debates. The kit makes a pretty good cheat sheet to look over before the debate (or right after, when you're wondering, "did that really make sense?")

The economy will almost certainly be Topic A at tonight's debate. If you've only got time for to look at one thing, check out "The Fix We're in Now." The "Get the Facts" section will give you some perspective, too. Another good resource is the Bureau of Economic Analysis' Overview of the Economy page.

The other big topic will likely be taxes and federal spending. Our "Has the Bill Arrived?" guide lays out the basics on that – including a number of things that I'm betting neither candidate is going to acknowledge onstage.

Generally speaking, candidates assume you already know something about the tax system –or that you won't bother to look it up. Numbers get thrown around but nobody every steps back and talks about what the government actually spends and how it raises money. We can save you some time, because a few charts really tell the story. Have a look at our charts on Federal Spending, Federal Revenue, Deficit/Surplus and Top Tax Rates – this will really help clarify what they're talking about. Remember that's the top ("marginal") tax rate, and most people don't reach that level.

Our other guides cover health care, Iraq and foreign policy, Immigration and climate change. Have a look, settle in for the debate – but don't let the candidates slide. They'll be asked specific questions, and you deserve specific answers.

Catholic Bishops Condemn Immigration Raids

Scott Bittle — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:27:08 -0400

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement condemning recent federal immigration raids this week, with one bishop saying the "humanitarian costs of these raids are immeasurable and unacceptable in a civilized society." Federal officials have stepped up workplace raids to catch illegal immigrants over the past year. In other immigration news, the Department of Homeland Security said the 670-mile fence under construction on the Mexican border may not be finished this year.

Broadly speaking, surveys show the public has both positive and negative views of immigration. But the public also consistently makes a sharp distinction between legal and illegal immigrants, and illegal immigrants are viewed with much less sympathy. Six in 10 also say illegal immigrants should be deported immediately after being caught, without recourse to the courts.

For more on the facts, choices and tradeoffs involved in building a better immigration policy, visit our Voter's Survival Kit guide, Immigration: Who Gets to Come, Who Gets to Stay.

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration, So What's the Plan

David White — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:39:21 -0400

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There are many ideas about how to reform the American immigration system – and frankly it’s going to take a while to really make sense of the situation and fix all the problems Americans complain about. Here are three different directions a lot of politicians talk about - directions in which the country might move.

CHOICES IN BRIEF

Dramatically strengthen the enforcement of current laws and reduce the level of legal immigration.

Reform immigration law to match the needs of the economy – bring in more highly-skilled immigrants and create a guest worker program for low-skilled immigrants.

Reform the system to take advantage of the enormous contributions immigrants make to the U.S. and give decent, honest undocumented workers a clear path to citizenship

Our immigration system is out of control. With about 11.7 million illegal immigrants living in the United States and nearly half a million new ones arriving each year, the current system undercuts American workers and risks allowing dangerous criminals and terrorists into the U.S. It’s just wrong to tolerate the widespread breaking of the law.

About 15 percent of U.S. workers are immigrants, and over the last decade they have accounted for about half of the growth in the work force. Our economy just won’t function well without them, but we need to adjust the system so that we really do bring in the people who can help us most.

The United States is a nation of immigrants, and our whole society benefits from having a humane policy that recognizes the vast majority of undocumented workers have become valued members of our society. Plus, the country basically allowed illegal entry for decades. To suddenly pull the rug out from under people who have built good lives here is just wrong.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CHOICES IN DETAIL

Dramatically strengthen the enforcement of current laws and reduce the level of legal immigration.

Reform immigration law to match the needs of the economy – bring in more highly-skilled immigrants and create a guest worker program for low-skilled immigrants.

Reform the system to take advantage of the enormous contributions immigrants make to the U.S. and give decent, honest undocumented workers a clear path to citizenship

What should be done?

Employ more Border Patrol agents, build high-tech barriers along the border and make illegal immigration a felony.

Pursue and punish employers who hire undocumented workers and require that employers check the status of all new and current workers in a government database. Employers who do not fire workers without valid Social Security numbers should face very serious fines.

Require that illegal immigrants already here pay stiff fines, learn English and apply for citizenship. If they are unwilling to do this, they should be deported. We cannot round up and deport 11.7 million people, but we can make sure that those who stay here have a genuine commitment to becoming Americans.

Give notice that all future visa violators and other illegal immigrants will be prosecuted and deported.

Reduce the level of legal immigration until we get a better handle on its impact on the economy.

Creating a guest worker program, so that employers who need agricultural and other low-skilled workers can bring them into the U.S. in a legal, but temporary way.

Adjusting the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country annually to fit the existing job market. The number would be increased or decreased each year depending on the jobs available.

Bringing in more highly-skilled science and technology workers, as long as employers say they need them. Our schools are just not producing enough people who are prepared and want to go into these fields, so these immigrants would give our economy a competitive edge.

Passing a compassionate and fair-minded amnesty program that gives undocumented residents without a criminal record the opportunity to legalize their status. We can’t round up and punish 11.7 million people who are our neighbors and co-workers. It just won’t work.

Increasing the number of slots for legal immigration so that foreigners will not be so tempted to enter illegally.

Providing driver’s licenses and identity cards for all those who enter the country for more than six months so that we can strengthen security and law enforcement.

Ensuring that legal immigrants receive educational benefits -- including real opportunities to learn English -- and have good access to health care and other basic rights.

Arguments For This Approach

It is dangerous and wrong to make it so easy to slip into the country illegally. The 9/11 Commission Report noted that several of the September 11th hijackers could have been detected and removed if immigration officials had enforced routine immigration checks.

We’ve let immigration get out of control, and we need to establish a system where our laws will be respected and people who violate them will not benefit from their law-breaking.

People are coming here for jobs. Cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, whether they are large companies or private individuals, will remove the economic incentive to do so.

We need skilled foreign workers. Companies like Microsoft, GE and IBM can’t get the highly-skilled engineers and specialists they need, so we simply have to bring them in from abroad. Our economy depends on it.

We also need workers willing to take on the tough, low-wage jobs that most Americans do not want. Our economy cannot run without them, and a guest worker program is the the best way is to invite low-skilled immigrants here Immigrants who come here to work pay taxes that are vital to keeping our government programs like Social Security strong.

For more than a hundred years, immigrants have come here and aspired to build a better life for their families. How can we deny to others the opportunity that brought our own families here?

The United States is a beacon of hope around the world. Though we struggle with our share of prejudice and racism, we have managed to mold a united country with shared values of freedom and equality. It's something to take pride in, not something to fight against.

Legal immigrants pay taxes and contribute to Social Security. Because of immigration, the U.S. is substantially better off than many European countries where the population is aging so dramatically.

Most immigrants show a genuine appreciation for this country and want to be part of it. Often, immigrants understand the true value of freedom and opportunity better than many native-born Americans.

Arguments Against This Approach

Drastically cutting the number of immigrants will derail the economy. Employers rely on well-educated immigrants for scientific and technical help and on less-educated immigrants to do jobs that Americans won’t take. It’s just irresponsible to ignore this reality.

This massive crackdown will be costly and will end up punishing good people who are contributing to our society – both immigrants and employers.

This violates a basic principle of our country. We have always welcomed immigrants, and our country is stronger and more dynamic because of it.

Many Americans are struggling economically. The government should not make things worse by inviting millions of immigrants to work for low wages and no benefits. It would be better to raise the minimum wage and guarantee benefits for all. Then Americans would be happy to take these jobs.

A guest worker program just lets American companies get by on the cheap labor and creates an underclass of poor immigrants who will be a drain on local schools and health systems.

Unless we really crack down on enforcement and border control, illegal immigration will continue to flourish. This approach does almost nothing to address this problem.

Providing immigrants with basically an open-door policy and generous public services will turn the United States into a magnet for the world's poor.

This choice does almost nothing to address the lax border enforcement. We live in a dangerous world, and no country can afford to let tens of thousands of people enter each year illegally.

We aren’t even taking good care of the educational and healthcare needs of our own citizens. We just cannot afford to help everyone who wants to come here.

Amnesty programs have been tried before and only encourage more illegal immigration. What message are we sending when we reward people for breaking the law? Is it fair to those people who have followed the rules and are still waiting their turn to get here?

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration, Quotes to Consider

Peiting Chen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:29:35 -0400

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Think everyone agrees on the problem and what to do about it? Here’s a sampling of what some influential people have said about the issue:

"You don't have to be an immigrant to be horrified that 13,000 American children have been separated from a parent by immigration raids." — Janet Murgia, National Council on La Raza April 22, 2008		‘"The indifference of the Executive Branch to enforce our laws invites a worsening of this failure. . . . employers have no deterrent for hiring illegal immigrants because there is little if any enforcement, investigation or prosecution, for doing so." — Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS)

"While we support the right of the government to enforce the law and protect the national security interests of the United States, we recognize that our existing complex and unworkable immigration system has made it nearly impossible for many immigrants – who seek to support their families or reunite with loved ones – to achieve legal status. Reforming the immigration system to address this reality would allow the U.S. government to focus its enforcement efforts on real threats that face all Americans – citizens and immigrants alike." — Interfaith Statement in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform		'The American people want our borders secure, want our immigration laws enforced and want those who hire illegal aliens both punished and held liable for the economic and social costs of breaking our laws. We are a nation of immigrants, and there is no more diverse and welcoming society than ours. But we are first a nation of laws, and upholding those laws and our national values makes this great country of ours possible." — Lou Dobbs, commentator and journalist

"We've never taken the position that you shouldn't enforce the law. What we've said is, in a time of limited resources, we should prioritize our enforcement. At a time when we don't have the resources to go after criminals, we're going after legitimate businesses and workers instead. That doesn't make sense." — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa		“We must have federal legislation that is reality-based. One popular proposal that is not reality-based is to require all undocumented persons to become legal citizens by returning to their country of origin and then applying to get back in. But how do you get 11 million people, many of whom risked their lives to get here, or were brought here as infants, have long-standing jobs and homes, and have children who are U.S. citizens, to voluntarily leave in the hope of someday returning to America?" — Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) Feb. 27, 2007

American competitiveness also requires immigration reforms that reflect the importance of highly skilled foreign-born employees. Demand for specialized technical skills has long exceeded the supply of native-born workers with advanced degrees, and scientists and engineers from other countries fill this gap. This issue has reached a crisis point.” — Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair		“The research is clear. An increase in immigration leads to an increase in poverty. If we truly want to do something about poverty in Colorado and our nation, we must stop importing poverty. We must begin enforcing the laws, primarily against hiring illegal aliens, which will force self-deportation of others in that category.” — Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.)

"The good news is that Congress is cracking down on illegal immigration. The bad news: a head of lettuce will now cost $300." — Jay Leno, talk show host		“Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery." — Jack Parr (1918-2004), talk show host

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration, Get the Facts

Peiting Chen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:09:21 -0400

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Immigration to the United States
Foreign-born population
Reason for admission
Origin of legal immigrants
Origin of illegal immigrants
Destination of immigrants
Occupation of immigrants
Level of education: native-born compared to immigrants
Health insurance status, native-born compared to immigrants
Poverty status, native-born compared to immigrants

Immigration to the United States

Tags: cost, immigration, government, illegal immigration, legal immigration

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration, The Fix We're in Now

Peiting Chen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:42:13 -0400

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A National Guardsman monitors surveillance cameras at a Border Patrol post near Yuma, Arizona. (Photo: Dept. of Defense/Sgt. Jim Greenhill, U.S. Army)

Six in 10 Americans believe that, in principle, immigration is a “good thing” for the country, but three-quarters (77 percent) worry that it may be too easy for illegal immigrants to come into the country.

The U.S. admits more than one million immigrants a year, and more than 12 percent of the U.S. population is foreign-born.

There are an estimated 11.7 million illegal or undocumented immigrants in the country. U.S. border agents say they apprehended over one million people in 2006.

Current laws emphasize family ties for admission, and most legal immigrants are, in fact, relatives of people already here.

Although legal immigration rates are historically high, they have fallen since the early 1990s.

More than half of immigrants settle in just four “gateway” states (California, Florida, New York and Texas). Increasingly, however, immigrants are moving to areas of the country with very little history of immigration.

More than half of illegal or undocumented immigrants come from Mexico and Central America.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Foreign-Born Population; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics; Public Agenda, People's Chief Concerns on Immigration

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration, How We Got Here

Peiting Chen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:22:32 -0400

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The topic is so bitter, and Americans are so divided about it, that we seem to have decided to live with a broken system rather than compromise on crafting a new one.

In some ways, this is surprising. Everyone knows America is a nation of immigrants – it’s a cliché to say so. The United States has long been the destination for millions of people hoping that hard work and freedom will secure a better life for them and their children. Compared to many other countries, we’ve been comparatively willing to put out the welcome mat. And yet as a nation, we still haven’t made up our minds about immigration.

Here’s some food for thought that may help you think through your own views on the issue:

The U.S. is now experiencing a great wave of immigration, second only to that at the turn of the 20th century. Yet this wave also comes at a time when many Americans are concerned about declining incomes, poorly-guarded borders and the threat of terrorism.
There are actually two issues. The first is what kinds of policies we should have on legal immigration – how many people can we welcome and how we decide who should come. The second is what to do about illegal immigration – how to reduce and what to do about the nearly 12 million illegal or “undocumented” immigrants currently in the United States, about a third of whom have entered since 2000.
There’s often talk of deporting illegal immigrants which is what the current says should happen, but realistically, deporting nearly 12 million people would be a massive undertaking – that’s more than the population of Ohio.
Illegal immigration now amounts to about 3 percent of the total U.S. population. Over half of illegal immigrants come from Mexico, and most live in California and Texas.
Much of the debate over legal immigration revolves around the economic impact and the degree to which new immigrants join the American mainstream. Does the U.S. economy benefit from the talents of immigrants, or do immigrants take jobs away from citizens? Should immigrants be required to learn English? What benefits should immigrants receive once they're here? These questions aren’t new. Similar issues were raised during the first great wave of immigration in the 19th century.
Illegal immigration also raises economic issues – particularly whether it brings down wages for American workers by giving employers a steady stream of people who will accept very low wages and poor working conditions. It also raises questions about how secure the border is and whether terrorists and criminals might take advantage of the easy access.
There are also issues of fairness and the rule of law. Many Americans are angry that U.S. laws have been widely disobeyed without much consequence for those who violated them – either illegal immigrants themselves and/or U.S. employers who hire them? How should we handle people who enter the country illegally? If they have obeyed the law and built honorable, constructive lives since then, what should we do then?
Unfortunately, economists don’t agree on whether the U.S. benefits economically from immigration. In some ways, the answer depends on where you stand. From a national perspective, there are pluses to having a large, flexible work force and younger immigrants to offset an aging population. However, in some local areas, high levels of immigration have meant additional costs for public schools and health systems. Even here, the answers are not clear cut. In some areas like New York and California, legal and illegal immigrants perform so many jobs – and so many kinds of jobs -- that it is difficult to imagine how things would get done without them.

The Law of Diminishing Returns?

The government has tried repeatedly to “fix” the country’s immigration system:

In 1986, President Reagan signed a law requiring employers to verify the immigration status of employees and granting amnesty to an estimated 1.7 million undocumented workers.
A few years later Congress tripled the number of visas to 140,000 for certain categories of workers with needed skills.
In the 1990s, Congress gave state and local law enforcement the authority to help federal agencies crack down on illegal immigration - a role that was ratcheted up following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In 2007, a bipartisan group including members of Congress and President Bush proposed legislation to create a guest worker program and provide most illegal immigrants with a path toward citizenship. The legislation failed to pass, but a law was passed to build barriers along the U.S./Mexican border, which would be policed by thousands of additional Border Patrol officers.

There’s a general consensus that the current immigration system is broken, but Washington has been gridlocked on immigration reform for years. Politicians tend to play to the extremes on this issue, because it’s the hard core believers on each side who are the most vocal.

Voter's Survival Kit: Immigration

Peiting Chen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:13:04 -0400

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The U.S. admitted more than 400,000 new immigrants in 2007, and more than 600,000 people were given permanent legal status, adding up to more than a million legal immigrants a year. More than 12 percent of the U.S. population is foreign-born.

There are an estimated 11.7 million illegal or undocumented immigrants in the country. U.S. border agents say they apprehended more than one million people in 2006.

Although legal immigration rates are historically high, they have fallen since the early 1990s.

Current laws emphasize family ties for admission, and most legal immigrants are, in fact, relatives of people already here.

Younger Minorities Becoming the Majority?

Jenny Choi — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:41:12 -0400

We’ve certainly seen a growing number of stories in recent years about a rise in the minority population of the U.S., but each new statistic seems to drive the point home further: America is becoming more diverse than ever. According to newly released Census figures, blacks, Hispanics and Asians comprise more than half of under-20 populations in one-quarter of all counties across the country. Minorities now account for about a third of the total U.S. population.

Recent figures from the Pew Research Center indicate half of the public celebrates this diversity, with 51 percent saying the growing variety of racial and ethnic groups is good for the country. But a not insignificant 22 percent say it’s either “bad” or “very bad” for the country. Immigration certainly plays a significant role in the sharp rise in minority representation, and public opinion research has shown that most Americans are generally divided on this issue. Whereas four in 10 say immigrants improve food, music and the arts, pluralities say they negatively impact jobs, taxes and the economy. Similarly, the public is split over whether the U.S. should encourage minorities to blend into American culture or maintain their own culture.

Pew has done extensive research on the impact of immigration on population trends; read more about it here.

States, Towns Find New Ways To Crack Down On Illegal Immigrants

Francie Grace — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:56:50 -0400

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.

Legal vs. Illegal Immigration

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:45:11 -0400

In surveys, the public consistently makes a sharp distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. In general, the public looks more favorably on immigrants perceived as "playing by the rules." Illegal immigrants are viewed with much less sympathy. Half of those surveyed by Public Agenda say giving the government the power to detain legal immigrants indefinitely in the war on terrorism "goes too far," but six in 10 say illegal immigrants who are detained "don't deserve such protections because they are here illegally." What's more, six in 10 also say illegal immigrants should be deported immediately after being caught, without recourse to the courts. The distinction is strong enough that caution should be taken in reporting survey questions that do not distinguish between legal and illegal immigration or those that combine these elements.

Mixed Views on Legal Immigration

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:41:09 -0400

The public is quite conflicted on the impact of immigration and many hold positive and negative attitudes about legal immigration simultaneously. Attitudes have certainly been shaken by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - the number of Americans who say immigration should be curtailed has taken a 20-point jump since the attacks. Yet it isn't clear whether people really want fewer immigrants or better enforcement of the immigration laws. In a recent Public Agenda survey, eight in 10 believed immigrants have a greater appreciation for the Constitution than native-born Americans (and immigrants agree). But other surveys show the public says immigration lowers wages and weakens the national character. Emphasizing any one of these findings by itself could be misleading. (See also our special edition on terrorism).

Citizens and Non-Citizens

Jenny Choi — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:39:27 -0400

When surveys ask about how citizens and non-citizens are treated by the law, the public's responses often change depending on how the poll question is worded. This is a classic sign of public uncertainty or ambivalence on an issue and poll results on this topic should be reported with caution.

Opinion on the rights of citizens and non-citizens varies depending on question wording

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:19:41 -0400

People are divided on whether immigrants become productive citizens or if they cost taxpayers too much by using government...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:17:07 -0400

Support for decreasing immigration has fluctuated, but has been substantially higher since 9/11

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:15:32 -0400

Immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to say that immigrants have more appreciation for the Constitution...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:56:40 -0400

Most people say immigrants have more appreciation for the Constitution than other Americans

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:54:28 -0400

Most people, including immigrants, say immigrants take jobs Americans don't want, but the public is divided...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:51:57 -0400