The high-decible media propaganda surge against Arizona’s new law to end border chaos has not persuaded citizens that reasonable immigration enforcement is racist. Maybe the “R” word is getting worn out from overuse, particularly in Obama’s post-racial America.
Earlier this week, Rasmussen pollsters found only 25 percent supported the aliens’ amnesty demands (Citizens Unmoved by May Day Amnesty Shenanigans).
In addition, a CBS/New York Times poll released May 3 determined that a sizeable majority approve of the law, with 51 percent believing it “about right” and 9 percent saying it “doesn’t go far enough.” That’s 60 percent toted up — interestingly the same number Rasmussen found in late April who agree that local police should be allowed to verify immigration status.
Poll: Majority Backs Arizona Immigration Bill, CBS News, May 3, 2010
Despite their expectation that it will burden police departments and disproportionately affect certain ethnic groups, a slim majority of Americans believe the controversial illegal immigration measure recently signed into law in Arizona is “about right” in its approach, according to a newly-released CBS News/New York Times poll.
Fifty-one percent of those surveyed say the law, which critics say essentially mandates racial profiling, takes the right approach, and nine percent say it should go even further.
Thirty-six percent say the law goes too far.
Read the original CBS/NYTimes poll data here: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE NEW ARIZONA STATE LAW.
The third poll this week which agrees that Americans want their borders and immigration laws enforced came from Investors Business Daily:
IBD/TIPP Poll: 60% Favor New Arizona Immigration Law, Investors Business Daily, May 4, 2010
Editorial pages may rage against the Arizona immigration law, but a solid majority of Americans support it, an IBD/TIPP poll found.
Sixty percent back the law, with 40% strongly favoring it, according to preliminary results. Meanwhile, 30% oppose it, with 20% strongly disapproving it. The remaining 10% are unsure.
The responses show a public increasingly frustrated with the response by local, state and federal authorities and welcoming solutions — like Arizona’s law — that would have been politically untenable a few years ago.
“The majority of Americans support the Arizona law, though they may have some concerns about it,” said Raghavan Mayur, president of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, which conducted the poll.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors restrictionist policies, says the poll is not surprising. Border control policies are always popular, he notes.
The law, signed by GOP Gov. Jan Brewer on April 23, lets state and local law enforcement scrutinize a person’s citizenship after a “lawful contact” (arrest or other action).
Similar laws are being proposed for Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Maryland and Oklahoma, though they are in preliminary stages.
The poll also found hardened attitudes toward illegal immigrants. Now 49% agree that illegals do jobs that Americans will not do vs. 54% in 2006. Just 33% believe illegals contribute significantly to the economy vs. 44% in 2006.
Eighty percent believe employers who knowingly hire illegals should be held accountable, 66% say securing the borders trumps expanding any guest-worker program and 71% think that the borders must be secure before discussing any amnesty for existing illegal immigrants.
So will the unpleasant din from editorial offices die down in the face of this information? Don’t count on it.
