The political environment for the upcoming Congressional elections is somewhat negative towards incumbents. Much of this negative environment is fueled by the strongly negative views of Democratic voters and Independent voters.
Illegal immigration is identified as a top problem that likely voters want resolved this year. Interest in this issue and interest in a solution to this issue is driven by Republicans.
In testing possible solutions, a plan similar to the proposal passed by the Senate and supported by the President has notably more support than an approach that includes enforcement plus a guest workers program.
Hispanics are more likely to have seen statements about immigration reform that they thought were too harsh towards immigrants or Hispanics and these experiences are more likely to have had a negative impact on their support for Republican candidates.
There appears to be some interest among likely voters, especially Independents, to punish their Member of Congress if action is not taken on critical issues, like immigration reform, this year.

1	A National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration
2	Key Findings The political environment for the upcoming Congressional elections is somewhat negative towards incumbents. Much of this negative environment is fueled by the strongly negative views of Democratic voters and Independent voters. Illegal immigration is identified as a top problem that likely voters want resolved this year. Interest in this issue and interest in a solution to this issue is driven by Republicans. In testing possible solutions, a plan similar to the proposal passed by the Senate and supported by the President has notably more support than an approach that includes enforcement plus a guest workers program. Hispanics are more likely to have seen statements about immigration reform that they thought were too harsh towards immigrants or Hispanics and these experiences are more likely to have had a negative impact on their support for Republican candidates. There appears to be some interest among likely voters, especially Independents, to punish their Member of Congress if action is not taken on critical issues, like immigration reform, this year.
3	Do you feel things in this country are going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track?
4	Do you think Congress has been doing a good job at solving problems that are important to you?
5	Please tell me which one issue you think is most important for your Member of Congress to deal with.
6	Key Demographics on Illegal Immigration being the Most important Issue
7	How serious of a problem would you say illegal immigration is in this country?
8	Key Demographics on those who say Illegal Immigration is an Extremely or Very Serious Problem
9	How important do you feel it is for Congress to solve the problem of illegal immigration this year?
10	Key Demographics on those who say it is extremely or very Important that Congress solve the problem of Illegal Immigration this year
11	Would you favor or oppose legislation which would do the following: Provide resources to greatly increase border security; Impose much tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal workers; Allow additional foreign workers to come to the US to work for a temporary period; Create a system in which illegal immigrants could come forward & register, pay a fine, & receive a temporary worker permit; Provide these temporary workers with a multi-year path to earned citizenship, if they get to the end of the line and meet certain requirements like living crime free, learning English, paying taxes… would you favor or oppose passage of this legislation?
12	Key Demographics on those who favor the legislation
13	And, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports this legislation?
14	Would you favor or oppose legislation which would only do the following: Tighten the borders; Put tougher penalties on employers and workers who violate immigration laws; Create an expanded guest worker program that allows people to work here only temporarily; and Most current illegal immigrants would never be eligible for citizenship
15	And, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports this legislation?
16	Which would you prefer: Congress does nothing about immigration reform this year, OR Congress passes an immigration reform bill that provides for increased border security and tougher enforcement but also contains things you do not like, such as amnesty for current illegal immigrants?
17	Key Demographics on those who want Congress to pass a Bill
18	Please tell me, for each one, whether you personally would think this is a solution that you would support or oppose.
19	Please tell me, for each one, whether you personally would think this is a solution that you would support or oppose. *Q14 only asked of those who opposed the legislation in question 13 (N=199 or 20% of sample)
20	Which party do you think is most responsible for the fact that no law has yet been passed to reform immigration policies in this country?
21	Some people say: it is a good idea not to pass immigration reform this year because many of the major proposals have too many flaws and Congress needs more time to get it right. Other people say: it is a bad idea not to pass immigration reform this year because immigration reform is a critical issue that needs action this year. Which viewpoint comes closest to your own?
22	Some people say: that the fact that a GOP controlled Congress did not pass immigration reform this year indicates that this is a party not capable of leading since they were not able to pass legislation to deal with such a critically important issue. Other people say: the fact that a GOP controlled Congress did not pass immigration reform this year indicates that this is a party that is doing a good job leading Congress since they did not rush to judgment on an important issue with an election year solution. Which viewpoint comes closest to your own?
23	Please tell me whether you would be more likely or less likely to support a candidate for Congress who supported that solution to the current immigration problem.
24	Please tell me whether you would be more likely or less likely to support a candidate for Congress who supported that solution to the current immigration problem. *Q21 only asked of those who answered “Less likely” in question 20 (N=239 or 24% of sample)
25	Have you seen, read, or heard any statements by politicians on immigration reform that you personally thought were too harsh towards immigrants or Hispanic Americans?
26	Did these statements make you more likely or less likely to support Republican candidates for Congress? Asked only of those who answered “yes” to question 22 (N=255 or 26% of sample).
27	Prior to this survey, had you seen, read, or heard anything about the immigration reform legislation passed in December by the US House of Representatives that would tighten the border, enact tougher enforcement of immigration laws against employers, and make illegal immigration a felony crime?
28	Did these statements make you more likely or less likely to support Republican candidates for Congress? Asked only of those who answered “yes” to question 24 (N=619 or 62% of sample)
29	If Congress does not deal this year with the most pressing problems facing the nation, which of these statements best describes what you think your friends and neighbors will do: vote for their current Member of Congress; not vote at all; vote against their current Member of Congress?