presentation of key findings from a national survey on immigration

7/28/2019 Presentation of Key Findings from a National Survey on Immigration

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1VERNON K. KRIEBLE FOUNDATIONAPRIL 2013

Bill McInturff

Elizabeth Harrington

Presentation of Key Findings from

a National Survey on Immigration

April 10, 2013

Floyd Ciruli

#13082


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MethodologyNational Telephone Survey:

700 registered voters

March 23-27, 2013

Margin of error = +3.7%


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ImmigrationReform


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Immigration reform is a high priority for a plurality

of voters.

Very High/High Medium Low

All Voters

Level of Priority of Immigration Reform by Party

While Congress is debating several

important issues dealing with the federal budget and deficit, there is also significant debate on

immigration reform. Thinking about all of the issues that Congress is facing, how high a priority should fixing our immigration system be

compared with all the other issues?


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It is clear that Americans attitudes have shifted to be much more

positive over time when it comes to the perceived impact of

immigration on the United States.

Impact of Immigration on the U.S.

Would you say that immigration helps the United States more than it hurts it, or hurts the United States more than it helps it?

36% 39% 37%43%

48%

64%52% 53%

45%40%

November 2006 December 2007* May 5-11, 2010* May 20-23, 2010* March 2013

Helps More Than Hurts Hurts More Than Helps

+8%-2%-16%-13%-28%

*Trend data from NBC-Wall Street Journal polls


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A majority of Americans believe that illegal immigrants

are here in the U.S. to make a better life for themselves

and their families.

Top One or Two Reasons Voters Say Most Illegal Immigrants are in the U.S.

Please tell me the one or two statements you agree with most. Would you say that most illegal immigrants are currently here in the

United States to

Would you say that most illegal immigrants currently here in the United States are

Trying to make a better life for their family 58%

Hard working people 33%Taking advantage of our welfare, health, and

education systems33%

Taking jobs away from American workers 19%

The next generation of the American dream 10%

Criminals escaping their own country 5%


7/327VERNON K. KRIEBLE FOUNDATIONAPRIL 2013

We tested eight immigration reform goals for Congress.

Americans place the highest priority on the following three goals

for Congress in reforming the immigration system today:

Importance of Immigration Goals (0-10 Scale)

Now, I am going to mention some possible goals that Congress might have for reforming the immigration system. For each goal, please

indicate how high a priority you feel it should be. Use a scale from zero to ten, on which a ten means it should be the single most

important goal, a zero means it should not be an important goal, and five is in the middle. You many use any number from one to ten.

Mean Score % 8-10

Make sure all immigrants pay taxes 8.9 82%Pass a long-term solution that fixes

the immigration problem once and

for all8.0 68%

Come up with an immigrationreform plan that can be supported

by both Republicans and Democrats7.9 65%



Guest WorkerProgram



Roughly seven out of ten voters say they favor Congress establishing

a guest worker program that would give work permits to people

who are already in the U.S. illegally if they pass a background check

and have a job.

Do you favor or oppose

Congress establishing a

guest worker program thatwould give work permits

to people who are already

in the U.S. illegally, whopass a security background

check, and have a job?

Strongly Favor

35%Total Favor

69%Total Oppose

31%Strongly Oppose

19%



Voters agree that a guest worker program is the best

way to get control of our borders.

The best way to get

control of our border

is to have a system

for handling guest

workers. Without a

guest worker

program, we are justinviting more illegal

border crossings.

Total Agree

71%Total Disagree26%



We tested six specific components of a proposal to establish a

guest worker program. Majorities of voters favor each

component we tested.

Guest Worker Program Components % Favor % OpposeGuest workers would have to pass a security background

check and have a job. 90% 9%Guest workers would receive a work permit smart card

that includes a photograph of the worker, employment

information, and biometric data such as fingerprints.

85% 14%

Guest workers would be able to renew their work permit

without leaving the U.S. 83% 16%The work permit smart card would be for a set period of

time and have an expiration date. 81% 16%

This program is a way for non-citizens to legally live andwork in the U.S. and provides no special treatment or

advantage toward citizenship, which is a completely

separate process.

76% 21%

Guest workers would be able to switch employers without

having to reapply for a new work permit. 59% 40%



And when asked overall as one proposal, nearly eight out of ten

voters favor establishing this six part guest worker program.

Now, having heard all

six different parts of

this guest worker

program, overall,

would you favor or

oppose the

establishment of thisguest worker program

in its entirety?

Total Favor

79%Total Oppose19%



Voters in all regions of the country favor the guest worker

program. Support is highest in the South and in Border States.

Favor/Oppose Six Part Guest Worker Program by Region/Border States

Now, having heard all six different parts of this guest worker program, overall, would you favor or oppose the establishment of this guest

worker program in its entirety?

73%80% 83% 79% 83% 78%

25%17% 16% 18% 13%

20%

Northeast

(21%)

Midwest

(22%)

South

(34%)

West

(23%)

Border States

(20%)

Not Border States

(80%)

Favor Oppose

+48% +63% +67% +61% +70% +58%



While support for this program is high among all ethnic

groups, it is highest among Hispanics/Latinos.

Favor/Oppose Six Part Guest Worker Program by Ethnicity

Now, having heard all six different parts of this guest worker program, overall, would you favor or oppose the establishment of this guest

worker program in its entirety?

77%85% 87%

20% 15% 12%

Whites

(74%)

African Americans

(12%)

Hispanics/Latinos

(10%)

Favor Oppose

+57% +70% +75%



Looking more closely at one part of the six part proposal: A guest

worker program needs to be a separate process from citizenship.

This is acceptable and supported across party.

Favor Oppose

All Voters

This program is a way for non-citizens to legally live and work in the

U.S. and provides no special treatment or advantage toward

citizenship, which is a completely separate process.



Supporting this finding, the largest difference of opinion

by party happens in the discussion of citizenship.

Now, I am going to mention some possible goals that Congress might have for reforming the immigration system. For each goal, please

indicate how high a priority you feel it should be. Use a scale from zero to ten, on which a ten means it should be the single most

important goal, a zero means it should not be an important goal, and five is in the middle. You many use any number from one to ten.

Importance of Immigration Goals (0-10 Scale)

Mean Score % 8-10

All

Voters

Ensure that

immigrants who came

to the U.S. illegallyhave the opportunity

to eventually become

legal American

citizens if they choose



We tested some additional possible parts of a guest

worker program:

Additional POSSIBLE Guest Worker Program

Components

More

Favorable

Less

Favorable

No

DifferenceThe types of jobs available to guest workers

would be determined by employers, not by the

federal government.58% 14% 26%

The guest worker program could be used for all

employment sectors and types, ranging frommanual labor or farming to engineering or hi-

tech jobs.49% 15% 35%

The spouse and children of guest workers

would be able to come to the U.S. to join the

worker.43% 33% 23%

Parents, brothers, and sisters of guest workers

would be able to come to the U.S. to join the

worker.21% 57% 22%

Now, I would like to get your reaction to some additional possible parts of the guest worker program. For each one, please tell me whether

this gives you a more favorable opinion of the program, a less favorable opinion of the program, or if it makes no difference about how you

feel about the program one way or the other.


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When specifically asked about the number of guest worker

permits made available, the majority of voters want employer

demand and need to be the determining factor, not the federal

government setting quotas.

Do you think the number of guest

worker permits made available and

distributed to non-citizens should be

determined by

The federal government setting

quotas on the number of jobs that

can be filled by guest workers

or

Employer demand and need of guest

workers to fill jobs that cannot be

filled by American workers

FederalGovernment

27%Employer

Demand

65%


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This point of view that a guest worker program should be driven by

employer demand not by government quota is supported by some

surprising audiences:

EmployerDemand

FederalGovernment

Net Difference

Strong

Democrats

Union

Household

Obama Voters

Liberals


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Testing Arguments

For/Against Guest WorkerProgram


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Top Support Arguments

Very Convincing Total Convincing

It is unacceptable to have twelvemillion immigrants in our country who

are currently outside the system. This

program would require illegal

immigrants to register for legal work

status and pay their taxes.

52% 83%

We must be smart and tough to get

our immigration system under control.

We must require illegal immigrants to

register for legal work status, pay theirtaxes, and pass security background

checks to remain in this country. This

program would do just that.

50% 84%


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Top Oppose ArgumentsVery Convincing Total Convincing

This program would allow the millions

of illegal immigrants to stay in thiscountry and bring millions more over

by allowing their families to join them.

This would mean higher costs for us

because it would mean greater use of

taxpayer services like our schools and

hospitals.

32% 58%

This program would leave the decision

about who enters the country to

private companies and largecorporations who are more interested

in hiring cheap labor than protecting

our citizens. We cannot allow that to

happen.

31% 61%


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In the end, overall support for the establishment of this

guest worker program remains high.

Favor/Oppose Six Part Guest Worker Program

Now, having heard more about this guest worker program, overall, would you favor or oppose the establishment of this six part guest worker

program in its entirety?

79%69%

19%29%

Initial Informed

Favor Oppose

+60% +40%


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There is majority support across party.

Favor Oppose Net Difference

All Voters

Informed Favor/Oppose Six Part Guest Worker Program by Party

Now, having heard more about this guest worker program, overall, would you favor or oppose the establishment of this six part guest worker

program in its entirety?


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After hearing a series of statements in support of and in opposition

to the guest worker program, a majority of respondents would

prefer this system be administered by private employment agencies.

Now, I am going to read you two statements about

how the guest worker program could work. Please

tell me which one you would prefer.

Private employment agencies would be responsible

for distributing guest worker permits based onemployer need each year which would help keep

the economy growing.

or

An independent commission representing businessand labor appointed by the federal government

would be responsible for setting quotas on the

number of jobs that can be filled by guest workers.

Private EmploymentAgencies

52%An Independent

Commission

42%


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Take Aways


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Take Aways: High priority: Republicans and Democrats see fixing the

immigration system as a high priority.

Solution: long-term and bipartisan: Voters want a long-term

solution to fix the immigration problem once and for all and a

plan that is supported by both parties.

A guest worker program is necessary to control borders.

Strong support for a guest worker program: Voters support a

guest worker program with background checks and jobs69%.

Marketplace, not government: Number of permits decided by

employer demand and need65%; types of jobs decided by

employer demand58%.


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Appendix


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Demographics of Sample:

2012 Exit Poll Data* Krieble Survey

Age

18-29

30-44

45-64

65+

19%

27%

38%

16%

16%

28%

37%

18%

EthnicityWhites

African Americans

Hispanics/Latinos

72%13%

10%

74%12%

10%

Party

Republicans

Independents

Democrats

32%

29%

38%

35%

18%

44%

2012 BallotRomney

Obama

47%

51%

40%

48%

Cell Phone Only 33% 25%*CNN exit poll data shown, except 2012 ballot is actual


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All of the Immigration Goals We Tested (0-10 Importance Scale)

Mean Score % 8-10

Make sure all immigrants pay taxes 8.9 82%Pass a long-term solution that fixes the immigration problem

once and for all 8.0 68%Come up with an immigration reform plan that can be supported

by both Republicans and Democrats 7.9 65%Provide employers with the technological ability to verify

whether employees are legal 7.8 63%Do more to secure the border to keep people from entering the

country illegally 7.6 61%Ensure that immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally have the

opportunity to eventually become legal American citizens if they

pay a fine, any back taxes, and pass a security background check*7.1 54%

Establish a guest worker program that would give work permitsto immigrants who pass a security background check and have a

job7.1 52%

Ensure that immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally have the

opportunity to eventually become legal American citizens if they

choose*6.2 39%

*Half-sampled


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Next Top Support ArgumentsVery Convincing Total Convincing

This program would mean additional tax

revenue for the government as more andmore non-citizen workers and their

employers would be paying taxes. This

would help reduce the deficit and put greater

revenue and dollars into our economy.

42% 75%

This program would provide a way for

undocumented workers to obtain legal work

status. It would provide employers with an

efficient and monitored way to make sure

they are employing only legal immigrants

who have passed security background

checks. This guest worker program would

provide no special treatment or advantage

toward citizenship, which is a completely

separate process.

41% 80%


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Next Top Oppose Arguments

Very Convincing Total Convincing

This program would place our national security

at risk. Although non-citizens would receivesecurity background checks, these background

checks would not be strict or rigorous enough.

Non-citizen workers would be run through the

FBI database and the criminal database of

their own country. This places too much trustin foreign governments to secure our borders.

27% 54%

This program would do nothing to limit

immigration into this country; in fact, it would

encourage more immigrants to come here and

take Americans jobs. When unemployment isthis high and our economy continues to suffer,

the American people just cannot afford this

program.

27% 52%

presentation of key findings from a national survey on immigration

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