1. Immigration Reform: The Voters’ Outlook
HART
RESEARCH A S O T E C I
Immigration Reform: The Voters’ Outlook
10826
Key findings from nationwide telephone survey among 1, voters conducted January 7 – 10, 2013

2. Immigration Is Good For America
Overall View Of Immigration
All Voters
Bad thing for America today
Good thing for America today
Good Thing
74% 60% 58%
63% 70% 69%
Bad Thing
14% 23% 28%
24% 13% 13%
Not sure
Democrats Independents Republicans
Whites African Americans Hispanics
Q.4

3. Immigration System Is Not Working
How would you describe the state of the immigration system today?
All Voters
75%
48% of voters say that fixing the immigration system should be a high priority for Congress.
Needs complete overhaul
46%
20%
Q.5ab
Very well 
Working well
Not working well/overhaul

4. Public’s Goals For Immigration Reform
This should be a high priority* for reforming the immigration system:
89%
83%
79%
73%
71%
66%
63%
51%
40%
Make sure all immigrants pay taxes
Require employers to verify that all employees are legal
Pass a long-term solution that fixes the immigration problem once and for all
Do more to secure the border to stop people from entering the country illegally
Prevent employers from lowering wages by exploiting immigrant workers
Prevent illegal immigrants from coming into the country in the future
Ensure that immigrants who came to the United States illegally become legal and have the opportunity to work toward citizenship
Help unite families here that have been separated by our current immigration laws
Deport all immigrants who have entered the United States illegally
Q.7
* Seven-to-10 rating on a zero-to-10 scale, 10 = should be the single most important goal

5. Public’s Goals For Immigration Reform: Democrats/Republicans
This should be a high priority* for reforming the immigration system:
Demo- crats
84%
74%
78%
59%
75%
50%
72%
65%
28%
Repub- licans
93%
83%
87%
70%
82%
53%
38%
52%
Make sure all immigrants pay taxes
Require employers to verify that all employees are legal
Pass a long-term solution that fixes the immigration problem once and for all
Do more to secure the border to stop people from entering the country illegally
Prevent employers from lowering wages by exploiting immigrant workers
Prevent illegal immigrants from coming into the country in the future
Ensure that immigrants who came to the United States illegally become legal and have the opportunity to work toward citizenship
Help unite families here that have been separated by our current immigration laws
Deport all immigrants who have entered the United States illegally
Q.7
* Seven-to-10 rating on a zero-to-10 scale, 10 = should be the single most important goal

6. Voters Want Legal Status To Include Chance For Earned Citizenship
This should be a high priority* for reforming the immigration system:
Ensure that immigrants who came to the United States illegally become legal…
and have the opportunity to work toward citizenship
but not be given a chance to earn citizenship
Q.7
ALL VOTERS
Demo- crats
Inde- pendents
Repub- licans
Liberals
Moderates
Conser- vatives
* Seven-to-10 rating on a zero-to-10 scale, 10 = should be the single most important goal

7. By Itself, A Path To Citizenship Creates An Interesting Political Dynamic
Ensure that immigrants who came to the United States illegally become legal and have the opportunity to work toward citizenship.
Mean ratings
6.4
Independents
7.4
1st Generation Immigrant
6.9
2nd Generation Immigrant +
6.3 GOP
Primary
Voters 5 10
In The
Middle
Single Most Important Goal
Q.7
6.5
Union
7.4
Less than $50k
6.3
Republicans
7.0
$50k-$100k
7.7
Democrats

8. Voters Say Border Security And Legal Status Are Both Important
With which statement about immigration do you agree more?
The first priority on immigration should be getting control of our border. Until we do that, we should not be granting legal status to those who came here illegally, as it will just invite more illegal border crossings.
Improving border security and fixing our broken immigration system are both important. We should require immigrants to become legal and pay taxes, while also improving border security.
Q.8a

9. With which statement about immigration do you agree more?
However, There Are Areas Of Partisan Friction As Voters Wrestle With Different Concepts
With which statement about immigration do you agree more?
The first priority on immigration should be getting control of our border. Until we do that, we should not be granting legal status to those who came here illegally, as it will just invite more illegal border crossings.
Improving border security and fixing our broken immigration system are both important. We should require immigrants to become legal and pay taxes, while also improving border security.
Democrats
Independents
Q.8a
Republicans

10. Strong Support For Immigration Reform Plan
Reaction To Immigration Reform Plan
All Voters
Description Of Main Elements
Strengthens border security by deploying better technology and focusing enforcement resources on the most serious security threats.
Requires employers to verify that all employees are legal, and any companies that employ illegal immigrants would pay large fines.
Illegal immigrants already in the United States with no criminal record would be required to register for legal status, learn English, and pay taxes, and they could work toward citizenship over time.
Ties the amount of legal immigration to the state of the economy, increasing it when employers cannot fill jobs and decreasing immigration levels when unemployment is high.
77%
Strongly
38%
14%
Q.9
Strongly 6%
Approve
Disapprove

11. Reaction To Immigration Reform Plan
Support for Immigration Reform Plan Crosses Partisan, Ideological Divides
Reaction To Immigration Reform Plan
Total Approve
77% 72% 80%
76% 82% 80%
77% 76% 77%
81% 77% 77% 72%
81% 77% 76%
All Voters
Democrats Independents Republicans
Very conservative GOPs GOP primary voters Republican CDs
Whites African Americans Hispanics
Age 18 to 34 Age 35 to 49 Age 50 to 64 Age 65/over
High school/less education Some college College graduates
77%
Strongly
38%
14%
Q.9
Strongly 6%
Approve
Disapprove

12. Support For Individual Immigration Reform Policies
 Strongly approve  Somewhat approve
Illegal immigrants required to pay taxes
Border security: better technology, focus
Illegals with no criminal record must register for legal status
Employers verify employees legal, large fines if employ illegals
Work toward citizenship only if registered, learn English, pay taxes
Illegal immigrants must learn English
Legal immigration tied to economy/unemployment rate
94%
92%
89%
88%
85%
Q.10
83%
57%
Democrats 56% Republicans 58%

13. Voters More Likely To Support Pro-Reform Candidates
How would it affect your vote for your Member of Congress if he/she voted for this immigration reform plan?
All Voters
More Likely
56% 47% 53%
50% 55% 53% 54%
Democrats Independents Republicans
Northeast South Midwest West
Less Likely
7% 11% 8%
8% 6% 7% 12%
Q.11
More Likely To Vote
Less Likely To Vote
Wouldn’t Affect Vote

14. If Immigrants Become Legal, Earned Citizenship Should Be Available
If immigration reform establishes legal status for people who originally entered the country illegally, which is the better way to do that?
It would be better to give people a chance to eventually earn citizenship at some point after they register for legal status, pass a background check, learn English, and pay taxes.
They should be allowed to qualify for legal status and work in the United States but should never be given the chance to earn citizenship.
Neither/should not be given legal status (VOL)
Q.12
Republicans:
Chance to earn citizenship 83%
Legal status/not citizenship 10%

15. Debating Immigration Reform: Amnesty?
With which statement about the immigration reform plan do you agree more?
OPPONENTS say this is just amnesty for illegal immigrants. The plan rewards millions of illegal immigrants who broke the law, at the expense of others who waited in their home country and played by the rules.
SUPPORTERS say this is not amnesty, it's accountability. The plan requires those here illegally to pay taxes, learn English, and pass a criminal background check before they can become legal and stay in the United States.
Q.13a
Opponents
Supporters

16. Debating Immigration Reform: Unfair To Legal Immigrants?
With which statement about the immigration reform plan do you agree more?
OPPONENTS say it is not fair to let illegal immigrants become legal ahead of people who have followed the rules and applied to come here legally. If they found a way to get here, they can find a way to get home and then apply to come to the United States the right way.
SUPPORTERS say it's not realistic to deport 12 million immigrants. And this plan requires illegal immigrants to go to the back of the line and wait their turn behind those immigrants who came to the United States legally, before receiving citizenship.
Q.13b
Opponents
Supporters

17. Debating Immigration Reform: Unfair To Legal Immigrants?
With which statement about the immigration reform plan do you agree more?
Opponents
Supporters
OPPONENTS say it is not fair to let illegal immigrants become legal ahead of people who have followed the rules and applied to come here legally. If they found a way to get here, they can find a way to get home and then apply to come to the United States the right way.
SUPPORTERS say it's not realistic to deport 12 million immigrants. And this plan requires illegal immigrants to go to the back of the line and wait their turn behind those immigrants who came to the United States legally, before receiving citizenship.
Q.13b
Democrats
Independents
Republicans

18. Debating Immigration Reform: Americans Out Of Work
With which statement about the immigration reform plan do you agree more?
OPPONENTS say that with millions of Americans out of work, now is not the time to increase immigration and make it easier for illegal immigrants to stay here. We need to take care of Americans first before we reward those who have broken our laws with amnesty.
SUPPORTERS say this plan cracks down on illegal hiring by requiring employers to verify workers’ legal status and increasing penalties for those who hire illegal immigrants, so that American workers’ wages are not undermined. America is stronger when immigrants get legal and pay taxes.
Q.13c
Whites Af-Am.
31% 31%
Whites Af-Am.
60% 61%
Opponents
Supporters

19. After Debate, Support For Immigration Reform Remains Strong
Reaction To Immigration Reform Plan
Initial Support
Support After Debate
77%
80%
Strongly
38%
14%
Strongly
39%
14%
Q.9, 14
Strongly 6%
Strongly 6%
Approve
Disapprove
Approve
Disapprove

20. The Bottom Line For Immigration Reform
Importantly, an opportunity to earn citizenship is on the table, and can achieve bipartisan support as part of a comprehensive plan to fix the immigration system.
However, it is important to remember that the primary drivers of support for reform are Americans’ desire to secure the border, prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants, and ensure that immigrants become legal taxpayers.
Addressing concerns like taxes and border security helps create the foundation for a plan that many voters see as “accountable.” This is particularly important to Republicans and independents.
Americans express a desire to resolve the immigration issue once and for all. This is not a debate they want to revisit.

21. Immigration Reform: The Voters’ Outlook
HART
RESEARCH A S O T E C I
Immigration Reform: The Voters’ Outlook
10826
Key findings from nationwide telephone survey among 1, voters conducted January 7 – 10, 2013