A new Rasmussen poll finds only 31 percent favor increasing immigration and that may be because only 18 percent of Americans think legal immigration is running higher than 500,000 per year. The real rate is more than a million per year. 58 percent of respondents either supported lower immigration levels or maintaining current levels.
The poll found that 31percent of Americans support increasing the number of legal immigrants into the country if the United States can fully secure the border and prevent future illegal immigration. 29 percent say the United States should decrease legal immigration levels, and 29 percent would rather retain current legal immigration levels. Therefore, a total of 58 percent do not want to increase legal immigration levels.
The numbers that want to increase legal immigration are up slightly from one year ago. Over the last year, business groups seeking higher levels of immigration have advertised heavily to make their case.
But another poll finding suggests that Americans do not recognize that the United States already takes in over one million legal immigrants per year. The survey question asks: “Approximately how many immigrants legally enter the United States each year - 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, 1 million, 2.5 million, 5 million or more than 5 million?” The results were:
- 11% think about 100,000 enter legally each year;
- 16% @ 250,000;
- 14% @ 500,000;
- 12% @ 1 million;
- 4% @ 2.5 million;
- 1% @ 5 million;
- 1% @ More than 5 million; and
- 41% are not sure.
So a total of 41 percent think we take in 500,000 or fewer immigrants, which are more in line with traditional immigration norms prior to the mid-1960s, and 41 percent aren't sure. If the question was worded to inform respondents about the actual level of immigration, it could shift more Americans into the immigration-reduction category. Clarifying that legal immigrants get work permits would likely further the shift.
Read Rasmussen for more information.
53 Comments
It remains sad that so many Americans still are unaware of the facts of legal and illegal immigration!! Part of that blame falls on a media who either doesn't discuss this OR quietly mentions facts in a back corner!!
It is up to us to get the word out.
When a country has a totally irresponsible media spreading lies and distortions, that's what happens.
The media isn't irresponsible...they are CORPORATE owned, we no longer have "free press"...that is long gone......media is a JOKE....
The fact that so many Americans have not focused on immigration metrics leads to added influence for special interests (like cheap the labor Chamber of Commerce and La Raza). The special interests know the gains for the people that they represent.
The greater number of Visas and increased regular immigration of more educated workers is a big part of the Chamber's cheap labor agenda. In the Senate comprehensive amnesty discussions it was not the focus of discussions and the anti worker people thought they would get to slide it through (Obama and the leaderships with few exceptions supported it). After passage and signing the people would figure out that they were sold out.
There is definitely a media black-out when it comes to illegal immigration; perhaps the only good coming from the current flash mob tactics of children and minors rushing the border is that it might finally wake up those who choose to ignore how bad the problem has become.
It would seem that way to me with the news media too. I've often sent letters to the Idaho Statesman in Boise. For the last 2 months no calls about my letters! Yet our local paper in twin falls prints my monthly letter(gotta play by their stupid rules). You know.
I cannot believe that people just sit back and accept what Obama is doing to our great America. This is totally a disregard for the "legal American's who are made to pay for all his "Executive Orders". He has shown us that he will do what he wants because he is "King Obama ". And on top of that we have a totally useless Congress that lets him get by with it all. It's all a political agenda.
I am 70 years old and I am glad that I will not be around when this all comes to a head a few years down the road.
Dennis....it isn't "just" Obama....but I agree with you and have said several times that at my age I will not see the destruction of the USA. I believe it is already too late and that the reason for the "stalemate" in Congress is so it will be a moot point very soon...I was told growing up there was NOTHING America couldn't do....changed in less than 40-50 years...
As the Bible states, "Even God's people will be destroyed for lack of knowledge."
A combination of ignorance, laziness and what is in it for me is bound to destroy this nation with b.o. heading the destruction.
This Hispanic is sickened by what is going on. I believe most of us are eagerly waiting for someone to give the word to stand up and do something.
I'm a 66 year old woman and am ready to stand up for our country.
A lot of us feel the same.
Its the weak liberals and the so-called president and his sheep that are failing our country.
Congress is nothing but a bunch of cowards, afraid B.O. will step on them like bug in the rug. Sad!
What can we do? I just don't know. Many want something done, but like I said, "Congress is nothing but a bunch of cowards". They're the ones being paid by tax payers and are suppose do the balancing act. You know check and balance. Not happening!
Immigration and Illegals Destroy the Labor Market.
There are already 10 million unemployed, 11 million underemployed, and 12 million Illegals.
There are simply too many 'workers' for the size of our economy.
We need to CLOSE THE BORDER, cut Legal immigration back 50%, and cut Illegal immigration back to zero. Then, mandate e-Verify and let the Secure Communities Act do its work catching and deporting Illegals.
We will do much better once we tighten up the Labor Market just a little for about 10 years.
Obama by not at a minimum enforcing out border and quickly deporting newly arrived illegals is making the problem worse, the solution tougher and proving that he can't be trusted. In so many policy areas Obama displays by action that he feels he is not bound by laws or the constitution.
The travesty of this dumping of minors goes deeper than has been addressed it is a matter of a serious public health risk.
Immigrants are not being health vetted. These children now flooding our border have not been inoculated against diseases that were eliminated years ago in this country ergo, our own citizens have not been inoculated. Many of these children have been kept in cramped quarters under unsanitary conditions with only porta-potties as toilets which are meant for outside use,which is a further cause of contamination.
Reports of scabies, measles,whopping cough, TB, polio, flu, etc... puts our own vulnerable children pregnant women, elderly, and all in danger of serious illness and even death.
The Obamacare Act can't handle our own citizens needs add to that the unsustainable number of illegals and you have the makings of a health disaster of pandemic/epidemic proportions the likes of which we haven't seen other than in 3rd world countries.
I already called my senators and congress, and I'm about to call the Red Cross and CDC.
This has got to stop NOW be they children or not, deportation is the solution for the sake of our own children and citizens.
The laws of our land have been shredded and broken, the cause is in Washington. hold them accountable for high crimes and worse. This is a war on the health and safety of all of us, not just border states. These children are being redistributed around the country. Act Now!
Perhaps this very well publicized influx of children, arriving in their thousands and overwhelming public agencies, will at last arouse the sleeping American public. People have to understand the hidden reasons why illegals are being treated with such tender concern by politicians, the messenger boys for big corporations: they are part of the hidden strategy to bring down American wages to the cheapest peasant labor elsewhere in the world.Hello again, global trade! Skilled full-time jobs are already disappearing, to be replaced by contract work, with no benefits.The screw will only tighten if we let it. How long will it take for the truth to sink in? We fear that by the time people wake up it will be too late to protest. The time is now.
MHO we need to end all immigration with rare exception for the next decade or two until we can recover from our current problems. We can train our own citizens. Bring back trade schools in a big way and replace the current lot of illegals working here.
Did you know that in the last 18-20 years that 5.8 million anchor babies were born in this country. I have to say that had our immigration laws been enforced, those anchor babies and the parents would not have been here. Now, picture this. If amnesty is granted to these 12-20 million illegal aliens and we start the chain migration......OH MY GOD!
Exactly. Senate Bill 744 is the "jewel in the crown" of this administration's population replacement policy; it's the accelerator that will ramp-up the rate of 3rd world immigration faster than any previous measure. This bill has "Death to America" written all over it.
Bringing in 1 Million Immigrants per Year is Insane.
In a good year, the US generates about 2 million net new jobs, but the wages are skewed lower.
Policy that gives fully 1/2 of these jobs to immigrants is insane.
Starting out with a 50% cut in Legal immigration and a cut to ZERO in Illegal immigration will help.
We need to put Americans back to work in these jobs.
With our own Government so lax on our land and shore protection, our Armed Forces drastically cut, and our American jobs being given away, I question when did this Country sell itself out? If anybody can cross these borders and work here, how safe is our Country? If our politicians really care about it, why haven't they made immediate public statements about securing our Borders, Ports and Jobs. If children can cross it, with the assistance of dangerous foreign cartels or crooks, then anyone can. What happened to Mexico's Southern protected wall? The one they wanted our U.S. assistance with? In America, does Big Business's cheap labor interests win out every time? Did the 9/11 Commission's recommendations mean nothing?
Since when does crossing a national border not become a "FELONY"? Since that is the case, then all illegals, children alike, have committed a "FELONY",and should be deported. End of discussion!!!
It never was a felony
If you re-enter after deportation (as many of these people have) then it's a felony.
Whether illegal entry into the US is a felony or not is a distinction that is scarcely worth making so long as the government refuses to enforce the law. At one time, illegal aliens were deported almost as soon as they were detected because that is what the law requires.
All that really matters to the American people is that we get rid of the illegals, and the sooner the better.
Yes, that's correct. And it's one of the things Sec. Jeh Johnson may well discard as a deportation priority if Obama "acts on his own" if the House refuses to act
Reply to Mike 1111 of CO:
EXCELLENT COMMENT! If only the IDIOTS in Washington could consider Americans first. As for all these illegal aliens crossing our border now, Congress has got to realize that American is NOT responsibe for all the poverty and crime on this planet and should act swiftly to get these illegal alien children back to their own country whare they belong.
I read this morning that Gov. Perry and the Speaker of the House (TX) have authorized the Texas Rangers and all other law enforcement to report to the border to aid the Border Patrol. They issued a statement that since Obama refuses to protect the people of TX, that state will protect its own.
An member of the federal House has issued a call for Obama's impeachment. I think his name is Gosert. (?) He said Obama's "herding of illegals" is the last straw. Never heard it phrased better.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has signed a motion to bring impeachment proceedings against AG Eric Holder. He is signatory #29. They need 22 more signatures.
Now, It's Getting Interesting ... Texas Rangers !!!
Saddle up those horses !!!
This morning, I called DeGette's office (Rep, D, CO) and left a message with a friendly staffer ... VOTE FOR GOHMERT'S AMENDMENT ... seemed like I wasn't the first by a mile.
We should see more action like this. Maybe we need to let the border states close the border while we redeploy the Border Patrol to the CANADIAN Border to see if they can handle that assignment.
And, where are the whistle-blowers like we had coming out of the woodwork for the VA ???
America is still worth saving, but it's up to the People to save her.
Terri, on your latter point, please read this article - http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/18/gaslighting-the-gops-part-2/
I understand what he's saying and I understand that Obama won't be impeached until there's a GOP Senate and maybe not then if the GWB admin is the standard, but right now Congress is being called the Do Nothing Congress. A call for impeachment would show the whole country that the Republicans don't condone what Obama's doing. I can't imagine anyone who might vote Republican would be put off by it. I'm even reading blogs from Democrats who want impeachment.
This situation, as with so many issues in the Dubya admin, show the weakness of our governmental system. Here's a man who wants nothing more than to destroy our country and there's no check against what he's doing, so he'll very likely succeed.
Most people simply don't know what is going on.
If they understood the crisis, they would ask for a stop to all immigration, period.
Pvbs 1:32 "Fools are destroyed by their own complacency". I can't argue with the Bible! When we ignore the warnings we'll face the consequences and sometimes they're deadly! America can only house;feed;medically care for so many, before we implode! When a State University Chancellor paid $450k a year uses the entire graduation ceremony time to rally for 'Raza', we've got a problem! The only thing that makes us an 'American' is OUR CITIZENSHIP! Try to enter Mexico or any other country without visas or citizenship, and you'll be detained and/or jailed! They're smart enough to know they can't deny THEIR citizens, to supply NON-citizens. LOGIC! America warmly welcomes all NEW CITIZENS!
There is another proverb from pre-Christian times that is applicable to this issue: "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad."
Not surprising since the media has taught us that all immigrants are good (mostly true as people) so more the better. In fact, most Americans do not know how difficult it is to immigrate even with 1.2m doing it every year. These represent the 1 in 10 who made it due to family ties or employment (mostly IT).Behind these 1.2m are at least 10m who would like to come but cannot due to limits. And behind the 10m are 100m who would jump at the chance once they know the benefits they would get here compared to where they live. Believe me, the US population would be 1b in a few decades if allowed to. It is a dam waiting to burst and the S.744 is the start of the burst.
From the time this issue first became fodder for the national press grist mill, one of the most overused sound bites has been the "call for immigration reform". The amnesty proponents use it freely; the administration promotes it as a primary objective; and virtually everyone who embraces the open border idea considers it to be synonymous with their particular cause. But, what is "reform"? Webster defines it this way: "to improve (someone or something) by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.". All of the definitions of this verb offered by Webster involve removing faults or abuses, e.g. "to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action." So, ask yourself if non-enforcement of border control, refusal to support employment verification, preventing implementation of voter ID laws, and ignoring a host of other things our existing immigration laws are supposed to prevent aren't "faults or abuses". I know I am playing with words here, but the point is that true immigration "reform" can be, and should be, the mantra of everyone who supports NumbersUSA and FAIR represent. Reform is actually making it better through enforcement. You can't deny that enforcement would be "a better method or course of action". If anyone asks me if I am in favor of immigration reform I will give them a qualified "yes", but I will be sure to tell them what reform really means.
Update on my Social Security mess for everyone interested!!
My dad and I called my disability attorney in Boise a couple of days ago . My dad basically told me that our local Social Security office(Twin Falls) is understaffed and backlogged big time(maybe due to the illegals here!!??). He said that they move at a snail's pace. Or a funnel full of molasses .
I haven't seen any letter from them about my over payment for about a month.is this progress I wonder!!?? Also why doesn't Social Security like attorneys for people with disabilities!!??
So my disability attorney is going to look into what's going on since we've heard nothing from our end here. So I guess I have to be patient with them or as my dad says I'm back on it, it guess of matter of when!! I hope I get my back-pay from them back I can certainly use the money since I lost my job in March!!
DisAbility Rights Idaho
http://disabilityrightsidaho.org/
Maybe by the time I'm back on it I'll have a part time job again! I hope!!I've got my job coach with Vocational Rehabilitation and we're trying to get a part time job. Either something with retail,grocery stores(not wal-mart) or restaurants(not the fast food kind either). We've put together a resume with quite nice for someone with my disabilities( the job history part).
At least it's some semi-happy news from me for a change!!
Good luck with this, Aaron. The govt is a strange beast. It's illegally let in MILLIONS (11? 12? 17? 20?)of citizens of other countries and given them our jobs, benefits, even Medicare. But let one of us apply for EARNED benefits and a thorough background check is done. American citizens have to obey the law. Illegal aliens don't. Again, good luck.
Thanks Caroline. I'm just getting sick and tired of jumping through all these hoops to it back. I haven't had my social security now for 8 months. I was cut off in December of last year. It was after my mother passed away. Then to make matters worse I lost my job during March this year. My father described my money woes with social security and unemployment like this. He's said that I'm broke and destitute. What kind of a government would do such a cruel thing to one of it's own citizens?
Thanks again for your support during this trying time for me and my family!
It is very discouraging when we have a President who does not follow our laws, he makes up his own. This issue with all the illegals coming to America was started by Obama. I read in a South American newspaper where their leader was praising Obama for coming up with ways for more illegals to get into America. Obama thinks Americans will do nothing, because so far, Congress has done nothing. We need to send faxes and e-mails to Congress, and believe me, they will listen if they each get thousands of e-mails and faxes. Only bombarding them will e-mails and faxes will help. Our military needs to step in. We should send e-mails and faxes to those Generals, also.
The purpose of the media is not to inform but to manipulate.
Rick you forgot one big important one! Control!!
NumbersUSA -
I suggest you post and publicise links to these official DHS sites that highlight the 1m+ legal immigrants per year. The 2013 report just came out and is just shy of 1m with a lot of great info on their backgrounds.
http://www.dhs.gov/publication/us-lawful-permanent-residents-2013
OK, thanks.
Legal immigration is computerized. The government could release immigration numbers on January 1 of the next year, but it waits for months, why? Because months later those astronomical numbers are no longer current news, which gives the media an excuse not to report them, and they never do.
The Senate's comprehensive amnesty bill attempts to slide through a big increase in legal immigrants and work VISAS. This was mainly to please a lot of special interests but in part to the amnesty would otherwise process illegals before legals. Most of the focus is on the huge number of immigration violators in discussion. And the cheap labor folks hoped to slide it through- but they have a lot of support from House members of doing that even in a stand alone set of bills.
For healthy missile class we need fewer workers than jobs giving job seekers the upper hand when negotiating salary and benefits.
The Chinese economy is expected to be bigger than the US economy by the end of the year. Of course, the Chinese have (as I recall) 3 times as many people. This is means that average earnings are substantially lower. The call for increased immigration should grow the economy. It should add to the earnings of firms. It should help immigrants. It will not help workers. A bigger economy with poorer workers is not what most want.
Keep it simple. Build the double fence at the border, use the illegals in the US to build it for free, deport them after finished.
Could it be that the 31% that want increased legal immigration are perhaps current immigrants themselves? No one in their right mind, knowing the facts, would ask for anything less than a drastic reduction of legal immigration and complete end of illegal immigration. What law or authority in the world is there that commands a sovereign nation to take in immigrants? If acountry so chooses to not allow immigration, it is their Right.
Americans First! Secure the Borders! Remove all illegal immigrants! Drastically reduce all visas! (O-1, H-1B, U non-immigrant, Student, etc)
without the support of our Government,as they seem to work for the Traitors who employ these Invaders. As Americans we need to make life as un-bearable for the Traitors who hire these people as possible for them and their Family's, as the care not about putting our family's into Servitude to support their greed and their family's.