Notes

Outline

A National Survey Of Republican Voter Attitudes

Do you feel things in this country are going in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

Please tell me which one issue you think is most important.

Thinking about legal immigration, should the number of immigrants allowed into the US each year – be kept at its current level, increased, decreased, or stopped altogether?

What if there were a candidate who stood for most of the things you believe in, but took a stand on immigration that you really disagreed with:  Would you definitely vote for that candidate, probably vote for that candidate, probably not vote for that candidate, or definitely not vote for that candidate?

The President and many leaders in Congress are considering several different proposals for immigration reform.  If Congress was considering legislation which would do the following to create an earned legalization program:

And, which of the items in this proposal was most important to you in your decision to support this proposal? (Asked of N= 584, or 72% of total sample)

And, which of the items in this proposal was most important to you in your decision to oppose this proposal? (Asked of N= 167, or 21% of total sample)

If your Member of Congress or candidate for Congress supported this type of immigration reform proposal, would you be more likely or less likely to vote for this candidate?

Now, thinking about a DIFFERENT proposal for immigration reform…This legislation would only do the following:

For each one, please tell me if you would favor or oppose this proposal.

For each one, please tell me if you would favor or oppose this proposal.

For each one, please tell me if you would favor or oppose this proposal.

Regardless of your view on this proposal, many of these immigrants have jobs & family ties to America and any deportation process would likely involve programs like creating a national ID card & government raids on millions of homes and businesses. With these facts in mind, do you think it is possible to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants?

Now, thinking specifically about the program in which illegal immigrants would have to return home during the earned legalization process.  There are two ways in which this program could be administered –

Some people say that the only incentive that will realistically encourage large numbers of illegal immigrants to register with the federal government is providing these individuals with legal status & the possibility of eventual US citizenship.  Other people say that illegal immigrants have broken our laws & should not be rewarded with eventual citizenship.  They should only be allowed to work here legally for a temporary period before being forced to return home.  Which viewpoint comes closest to your own?

Some people say that the only immigration reform necessary is to enforce all current laws, tighten border security, & deport all illegal immigrants.  Other people say that since there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, attempting to deport all of them is unrealistic & would require so many burdensome government policies that a better solution is an earned legalization program with registration so that illegals with evil intentions are more easily identified.   Which viewpoint comes closest to your own?

Have you seen, read, or heard anything about a group called the Minutemen and their efforts regarding immigration?

Based on what you know, do you generally approve or disapprove of this group and its efforts?

The President and many leaders in Congress are considering several different proposals for immigration reform.  If Congress was considering legislation which would do the following:

If President Bush were to strongly support an immigration proposal like this one, would you have a more favorable or a less favorable view of him?