October 22, 2009
Posted: October 22nd, 2009 08:23 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - A new national poll indicates that nearly three-quarters of all Americans would like to see a decrease in the number of illegal immigrants in the country.

Seventy-three percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Thursday morning called for a drop in the number of illegal immigrants, with 22 percent saying the number should remain the same and just 3 percent stating that there should be an increase in the number of illegal immigrants. That 73 percent figure is the highest number since CNN started asking this question four years ago.

According to the poll, 37 percent want to see all illegal immigrants deported, also the highest number since the questions was first asked in 2006, and another 23 percent say that the number of illegal immigrants in the country should be decreased significantly.

"Support for deporting all illegal immigrants is highest among older Americans and people who live in rural areas. It's highest in the South and Midwest and nearly as high in the Northeast, but only one in four Westerners think that all illegal immigrants should be deported," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted October 16-18, with 1,038 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Filed under: Immigration


jay   October 22nd, 2009 10:38 am ET

Quick question–you are a citizen of this nation, and are concerned about swine flu. The government that you have been supporting through taxes, voting, etc, is giving out immunizations. YOu go stand in line with 3000 other people for 300 shots. Should and illegal immigrant get a shot, or should it be reseved for citizens first?

gary   October 22nd, 2009 10:37 am ET

You have Three hundred million people in your country and cnn baises this poll with big headlines on one thousand people surveyed by telephone. You have to be kidding.Talk about wanting to come up with an answer before asking the question,sounds more and more like fox news.

SEE   October 22nd, 2009 10:37 am ET

No – the President is just very analytical, and wants to do the right thing, after evaluating all the REAL evidence (as opposed to acting on poorly vetted, and bogus reports, as was done by the previous Administration). Cheney is an instigator, trying to stimulate fear again, as usual. His time is over. He needs to keep quiet.

ANONYMOUS   October 22nd, 2009 10:32 am ET

Of course we do but politician, being the crooks they are, will NOT do anything about it because of the almighty vote! Sad that the illegals are ruining everything in this country.

Tim from Tampa   October 22nd, 2009 10:32 am ET

Incredibly stupid commentary. People calling for a decrease, increase or keeping the same level of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Please look up the definition of ILLEGAL! There should be ZERO illegal immigrants. They are illegal! The government has an Immigration Policy. Try following the rules. Obey the laws.

New Yorker   October 22nd, 2009 10:31 am ET

And soon 1 out of 4 will be illegal immigrants. Good for the liberals; adds to their voter base.

felicia   October 22nd, 2009 10:30 am ET

What it is is that they want illegal immigrants in this country to vote republican. These people know exactly what they are doing.

Rose   October 22nd, 2009 10:28 am ET

I agree that Illegals should be reduced big time. They are draining this country in too many ways. Taking jobs American citizens would be willing to do, providing them with FREE health care and the prisons are going broke taking care of them. Why do we have to learn their language, they need to learn English. I resent the fact that I still have to press 1 for English. They have already changed the way we do business in this country, they make demands they have no right to make. Send them all back where they came from.

Carnell From Detroit, MI USA   October 22nd, 2009 10:26 am ET

Oh Please! Doesn't HypocriCNN And The Bionic Bigot Lou Dobb...Dobb...Dobbs Have Any Thing Better To Do Than To Blame All Their Problems On Illegal Immigration. Does Lou Dobbs Pick With Anybody Besides Hispanics?

aj   October 22nd, 2009 10:26 am ET

it is about time people woke up!!!

Otto   October 22nd, 2009 10:26 am ET

Let's hope they take their grandparents and leave as well. Since all people living in the US except Americans Indians are or of immigrants; I guess we should all leave.

Give the Indians back their country and we should return to Europe, Africa or Asia. This is a stupid poll in and of itself.

SLM   October 22nd, 2009 10:19 am ET

A law is a law. I didn't know it was a choice which laws were to be enforced and which laws are to be ignored. We are tired of illegals taking over our country. Their expense to tax payers well exceeds any so called benefit they provide. Our schools are over flowing, hospital emergency rooms, jails all at our expense and we are flat broke from the heavy financial burden they are costing us.

vic nashville , Tn   October 22nd, 2009 10:18 am ET

Last Monday on Campbell Brown blog many of them saying they want Serif Joe Arpaio their town

I understand their frustration but if you deport all the illegal immigrants many town will become ghost town cites will loss revenue (property tax in the form of rent, sales tax) many cities struggling to run the schools now
Nearly 100 years we used the illegal immigrants now we don’t need them !!!!!!!

We have to find a middle ground solve this problems

Phil   October 22nd, 2009 10:18 am ET

Majority of the people in this country are illegal immagrants. This is no different on how this country was originally taken. And now those people are the poorest people in this country. There are so misconseptions about Native Indian"s, it's hard to believe how many non-Indians still believe that we get a monthly check for being Indian. It wasn't that long ago while on a trip to Houston that I was asked if we still lived in tipi's. It's sad to say but there are so many Indian's that are product of the U.S. govt, which is the majority of the Native Indian's. It sounds like the majority of people taking this pole are hypocrites.

Tony   October 22nd, 2009 10:16 am ET

Crack down on illegal immigration and widen the pipeline for legal immigration. This is better for America, Americans, and immigrants.

Illegal immigrants should be prosecuted, I believe it's a misdemeanor so they would incur a fine rather than jail time. The process could be easily streamlined. The illegal immigrants who have criminal records, aside from immigrating illegally, should be deported. The ones who don't have criminal records should be either given some path to citizenship or allowed to apply for work visas. There's no point in having them remain illegal.

And MASSIVE fines need to be imposed on businesses that hire illegal immigrants. These businesses are enablers.

Denroy3   October 22nd, 2009 10:15 am ET

We knew that already. It's the pols and their money men who want more cheap labor. It lines all their pockets at the expense of the taxpayer and the country. Don't worry California, I'm sure you can afford more, just leave the rest of us out of it when the tax bill comes due.

Pete   October 22nd, 2009 10:14 am ET

How much money do you think it would actually cost to round up 20 million people? What safeguards would be in place to make sure you didn't deport actual American citizens? Absolutely NO good would come from this.

Black Viper   October 22nd, 2009 10:14 am ET

Instead of sitting there blaming Illegal immigrants for your unemployment or misery, learn how to turn a problem to an opportunity.
To have a successfull life on earth you always have to learn to turn problems to big opportunities by thinking outside the box and not to point fingers or spew hate.
Success belong to fighters not whinners and lazies.
Human beings have a brain for a reason.
Ask yourself why most rich people in the world never finish school because they learned how to transform a weakness into a strengh.

Fools and their freedoms are soon parted   October 22nd, 2009 10:13 am ET

Excuse me...I don't want to decrease it I want to END It...get rid of these parasites please!!!!!!!

gt   October 22nd, 2009 10:10 am ET

for the LAST 10YRS,,, HELLO....these gutless politicans are going to do anything,,, they are sell outs to the american voter,,, its pathedic,,,

VernisRobertson   October 22nd, 2009 10:09 am ET

This man is the Devil, start war with the whole country while hides in a bunker and count his oil money , he is the reason why this country is in this situation . He is a crazy evil nut , that hates anything good.

AXH   October 22nd, 2009 10:08 am ET

Correction, support to deport all illegal aliens is not just among the older Americans living in rural areas. People in large cities what this as well and not just the older folks!

Illegals need to be sent back to their home countries, period.

Melissa   October 22nd, 2009 10:07 am ET

I'm surprised its only 3 out of 4.

annie s   October 22nd, 2009 10:06 am ET

Well, duh.

voice of reason   October 22nd, 2009 10:03 am ET

the funny thing is, if a republican tries to use this pole as proof that people want illegals decreased in this country, itll be considered racism

unknown   October 22nd, 2009 10:03 am ET

The immigrants should not be deported. They are the ones working hard and in some way they are helping the economy be better. I dont think a American will go to do the kind of jobs they do. All Americans have the opportunity to be professionals and the immmigrants dont.

Tom   October 22nd, 2009 10:02 am ET

Why is this government so afraid of stopping the illegals who are a prime resource of ruin in our economy and neighborhoods?

Ashley Robinson   October 22nd, 2009 9:57 am ET

Yes, I would like to see a decrease in illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are the ones taking over our job markets for little pay. We are known as the "Land of the Free", so in general immigrants that are properly accessed over here do not make much of a difference to me. Therefore, a decrease in illegal immigrants will cost less problems and assure more jobs for the people of the United States of America.

Tim Gaythner   October 22nd, 2009 9:57 am ET

Obama's solution? Make them all legal of course!

Jeff   October 22nd, 2009 9:56 am ET

We will be judged by how we treat the lowliest among us...

hmmm... the war on immigrants, if the war on drugs doesn't work, how is the war on immigration going to work?

Give all immigrants Social Security numbers (cheap to do) require them to pay taxes through working legally. Anyone employer caught employing someone illegally should be shut down until in full compliance. Problem solved, 15+ million illegal immigrants working legally and paying taxes like the rest of us.

james faucett   October 22nd, 2009 9:56 am ET

I am not very smart but have enough sense to know that if the president and congress would enforce the laws and stop illegal alliens that just being here is breaking the law . All us citizens in america are required to show I. D. but they don't have to and have free get out of jail on almost everything. Do that and maybe we can start to discuss health care , what we are supposed to support every body in the world just have sign come to america free health care and us leagal citizens pay

Dan   October 22nd, 2009 9:55 am ET

So, now that we know the "Will of the People," what do you think the "servants of the people" in Washington' response will be?

We have "Concensus," no need to debate further. We have a 50 day window before the US is doomed.

We can create or save 12 million new jobs ust by identifying the illegal (undocumented is illegal).

No jobs for illegal aliens.

Anchor babies whose parents are in the country illegally, are in reality mill stones.
Hand the parents a bill.
Give the child a dual citizenpassport,
and send the family home.

IMHO

Dave   October 22nd, 2009 9:55 am ET

It's called common sense. We need to know who comes into the country for security reasons first. Second, we can't afford to care for what we have now, we definately do not need more coming in illegally. Most that do come in illegally, take more than they give. They send a lot of money back home and they are in lower paying jobs to begin with. If thats racist and biggoted then oh well. Opponents of that view just need to get a grip and realize their are separate nations for a reason: we did not like how they were doing things in other countries so we started this one. Now you are all for no borders. It will destroy us, not better those coming in.

Scott, Tucson   October 22nd, 2009 9:54 am ET

The only people who are supporting illegal immigration are the Democrats. Why your own Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is facilitating the illegals to cross our borders by her plan to withdraw over 300 Border agents and her withdrawing the ICE agreements to local law enforcement that allow them to stop, question and detain suspected illegals.

Shari   October 22nd, 2009 9:54 am ET

So the 25% of the population who don't want a decrease are are either the illegal aliens themselves, the employers who value their skills and cheap labour and the churches who are sympathetic to their plight? Seems so.

Me, MN   October 22nd, 2009 9:53 am ET

Of course illegal immigrants should be deported. The problem is that people are so narrow-minded, they have no true idea about who could be an illegal immigrant. Most assume every Jorge Garcia is not only an immigrant but illegally so. It never occurs to them that David Johnson is here from Canada without permission.

TexGal   October 22nd, 2009 9:52 am ET

Living in Texas and seeing our schools overrun by illegal immigrants, I am all for deporting as many as possible. People that do not have non-English speaking illegals in school with their children do not realize the drain that the English as a Second Language [ESL] program puts on the school system, taking away or minimizing services that should be provided to legal citizens.

Enough   October 22nd, 2009 9:51 am ET

The message is clear, we are tired of supporting people who break the law. Enforce our laws and Deport all illegal immigrants and their families.

cjr   October 22nd, 2009 9:49 am ET

interesting question – however – recently I was speaking with someone living close to the border in Arizona. She told me that with the economy tanking and people being laid off and the attitude against Hispanics – mostly illegal, a large percentage of the clerks, nannies, auto mechanics and others – left and returned to Mexico. This is what everyone wanted.

But then, Walmart and other business's began to notice that their customers were becoming few and far between. Houses and apartments were empty, cars abandoned on the street. Attendance in schools dropped significantly. This town is on the verge of going broke.

Something to consider

victim of republican greed   October 22nd, 2009 9:48 am ET

Is the foreign billionaire who owns Fox Lies an illegal immigrant?

Rowdy   October 22nd, 2009 9:46 am ET

as Gil Favor used to say:
"head 'em up
move 'em out
move 'em on
head 'em out"

George   October 22nd, 2009 9:46 am ET

Wow that really takes a poll to figure out???? What a waste of a news story.

Rick McDaniel   October 22nd, 2009 9:44 am ET

12 million illegal immigrants, is simply incredible. That figure clearly shows that INS is making very limited effort to identify and deport the illegal immigrants.

In Texas, the illegals are obvious, and easily found, if anyone was really trying to find them.

fumblinstumblinoidiot   October 22nd, 2009 9:44 am ET

If we deport all the illegal immigrants what is going to happen to "Obamacare"??..after all,isn't that who the plan is for??it certainly isn't for those of us who live and work here

J.P.   October 22nd, 2009 9:44 am ET

Well, then, they are OBVIOUSLY RACIST. Right?

How dare they actually think fences make good neighbors?

NVa Native   October 22nd, 2009 9:44 am ET

There ia no surprise in the poll results, the question is how? Do we shut down all resources to these people and hope that by some divine intervention they leave? In reality they will feed themselves and their families in any way they can – as any of us would. And if a legal avenue to gain money for food is cut off what alternative is there? There is an obvious answer to that question. We need to find a way to help these peolpe attain either a way home or a way to make this their home. If we through them (and their families) to rhe wolves they will perish or become a wolf. Neither is in our best interest.
And to all you conservatives out there this is your chance to show that you are truely of the Christian faith – and that your really do believe in family values by valuing someone elses family.

Fair is Fair   October 22nd, 2009 9:44 am ET

I thought it was called ILLEGAL immigration because it was "illegal". Quick... let's change the name to "undocumented workers".

Seattle Sue   October 22nd, 2009 9:43 am ET

I guess Sheriff Joe is the not the only person that understands the word illegal, now if Rick Sanchez of CNN would look the word illegal up in the dictionary maybe he would understand it. Please tell Rick to knock off the Spanish speaking on his show or move it to a Spanish network.

Dave   October 22nd, 2009 9:42 am ET

This is true, but the real question is if the politicians will do anything about it. Based on their prior and current records, I don't have much hope. And this Administration was supposed to give us hope! What a joke!!!!

JP   October 22nd, 2009 9:42 am ET

According to the Washington post 1 out of every 15 school children are illegal immigrants. My kids go to a DC charter school, funding was cut for all charters in DC. Services are cut to my kids funded with my taxes so we can educate illegals. Obama wants to make the illegals legal because they vote democratic. So his idea of change is screw the tax payers so he can get more votes in 2012. Guess what everyone when Obama makes them legal the vast majority of them will join the 48% of U.S. workers who pay no federal income tax under Obanamics. The 12 million illegals are a large part of the 36 million who have no health insurance the CBO health care cost projections do include the cost of making illegals citizens. The citizens of this county do not want any more poor people who don’t speak English. I don't blame people from the south of our border for wanting to come here for a better life but don't blame me for not wanting to pay for it.

USN   October 22nd, 2009 9:42 am ET

And that does not mean make them leagal !

TangledThorns   October 22nd, 2009 9:39 am ET

We won't see any immigration control with the liberals in charge, that's the Democrats base!

Bobby   October 22nd, 2009 9:36 am ET

And the other 1 out of 4 are the illegals themselves.

Caleb   October 22nd, 2009 9:34 am ET

Are you guys the GOP's propaganda wing ?! The president is tackling the issues, immigration reform's time will come and again the GOP will seem to be winning at the beginning but after the wise people of this country sit down and think, they will realize there is no way to stop illegal immigration but to overhaul the laws on a nationwide basis and stop it at the border.

Aaron, Owings Mills, MD   October 22nd, 2009 9:34 am ET

Undocumented immigrants are here to stay since they will not be deported enmass due to the political and economic unfeasibiltiy of mass deportation. Therefore, we might as well offer American citizenship to those undocumented people who are already here since they are not going anywhere. We can reduce, but not totally eliminate illegal immigration via erecting higher border fences. The reality is that undocumented immigrants do pay taxes, support the social security system and other public programs with those taxes and keep product and service prices reasonable. The United States is addicted to cheap labor and will always be addicted. Our economy would collaspe if we deported all undocumented immigrants from the country. We really need these people. After all, who would do the undesirable jobs that most Americans will not do? Most guest workers come to this country with the intention of staying here permanently. If we deport some of these people, they will just come back at later times, given the wide and porous nature of U.S.- Mexican border. As long as we have a guest worker program, illegal immigration will continue since the program fuels the problem.

Joe in Quincy   October 22nd, 2009 9:34 am ET

Anti-immigrant fever has historically always run high during depressions. Apples don't fall far from the apple tree.

John   October 22nd, 2009 9:30 am ET

Who actually is in favor of illegal immigration? There should be a push not to prevent people from coming here, but to make sure they legally immigrate. The current process for obtaining citizenship is extraneously overcomplicated, and work visas are pointlessly difficult to get as well. The problem isn't the 'immigration', it's the 'illegal'.

Gimblecat   October 22nd, 2009 9:29 am ET

With the current state of the economy, the influx of illegal immigrants is totally destructice with no possiblity of any beneficial side effect. IA's need money to survive so they either offer thier labor for a pittance or resort to crime. Either way, the more success in either encourages further abuse. Locals with legitimate overheads cannot compete and the destructive cycle gets worse.
We are now promoting our own destruction as a nation. It's nice to say we are a nation of immigrants, that we help everyone etc., but we have reached a point that whatever we do must be in moderation. First stop illegal entry across our open borders, then modify our standing immigration policy to the benefit of our country.
Discourage illegal immigration to the full extent of the law, by taking a more severe stance against those caught. NO COLOR TV, NO 3 COURSE DINNERS, NO COMFORTABLE SLEEPING QUARTERS. and so on.
We have become such softies that everyone is being invited to take advantage with zero repercussions. So we are paving the way for our own demise. It's time for us to wake up and defend ourselves.

T'SAH from Virginia   October 22nd, 2009 9:27 am ET

SECURE the borders by BUILDING THE FENCE FIRST then talk about who should STAY and who should LEAVE!!!

IN MY OPINION – everyone who is currently HERE should STAY minus the CRIMINALS – ship them BACK to MEXICO!!! More money is spent trying to DEPORT illegal immigrants and they come right back!!!! Prevent them from coming back – CASE in POINT!!!

WE ARE ALLL IMMIGRANTS except for the NATIVE AMERICANS!! Some traveled here, some were FORCED here and others migrated here but WE'RE ALL HERE – make the BEST of it!!

digger   October 22nd, 2009 9:26 am ET

Yes, deport all of them.

Sean   October 22nd, 2009 9:26 am ET

There is a simple solution to the illegal immigration problem: Heavily tax and/or fine the businesses that hire illegals. Zero income for illegals = less illegals. And, consequently, more employment for American citizens. There may need to be a new agency to continuously audit businesses, but this means even more American jobs and more honest businesses. Let's face it, the solution will cost money one way or another. Might as well fix the root of the problem; stop illegal business operations. Remove the incentive for illegals to cross the border and less will come here.

MatthewDetroit   October 22nd, 2009 9:25 am ET

The Dems just want the illegal votes like ACORN.

MatthewDetroit   October 22nd, 2009 9:24 am ET

How come the President and the Congress will not handle this...

You want increase jobs.... Get rid of ALL the illegal immigrants.

Employers will have to pay higher wages.
Employers will have to hire to employees.
Why are all the unemployed letting this go.

Besides the fact that illegals cost us tax money every day in schools, medical, prisons, college, etc.....
It is breaking California's back all on its own.

You can not even build a new HOME DEPOT in California without the company spending money to build an area for illegals to stand....
It is a joke in CA.

Obama = Trickle up poverty   October 22nd, 2009 9:23 am ET

Obama and Democrats – No amnesty! The tax payers cannot continue to support the illegal population. What is it about "illegal" that you don't understand? Look at California – we are bankrupt and our taxes have all been greatly increased, we cannot afford the strain they are putting on us.

TRUTH   October 22nd, 2009 9:22 am ET

please make them legal barry, have them pay taxes and the people of this USA will be fine

jd   October 22nd, 2009 9:22 am ET

Absolutely, the number of illegals should be decreased. Ideally, it would be decreased to zero. Illegals are, for the most part, uneducated, low paid, workers, who will never manage to make enough money to pay taxes sufficient to pay for the many social and health care services that they will receive. They are a net drain on the economy, and America doesn't need any more net sum zero inhabitants. We have plenty of legal entitlement people already draining the economy.

Henry Miller, Libertarian, Cary, North Carolina   October 22nd, 2009 9:19 am ET

I don't mind if people come here to work, but people who are here just to take advantage of the "free" services American governments so foolishly hand out ought to be deported as expeditiously as possible. We have enough American welfare bums–we don't need to import any more.

Truth   October 22nd, 2009 9:19 am ET

"Support for deporting all illegal immigrants is highest among older Americans and people who live in rural areas. It's highest in the South and Midwest and nearly as high in the Northeast"

Everyone knows that a Poll can be manipulated by phrasing the question. so this poll is absurd. CNN get real ,
ANY ONE THAT CALLS THEMSELVES THE BEST IN THE NEWS IS SELF PROCLAIMING. I STOPPED WATCHING CNN.

pc   October 22nd, 2009 9:18 am ET

Illegal immigration should be outlawed. ALL illegals should be deported! Foreigners should not be allowed to come into our country and break our laws!

mike   October 22nd, 2009 9:17 am ET

lets not deport the illegal immigrants in this country but the companies that hire them why should we as taxpayers pay for law enforcement
to run around the country and pick these people up knowing the companies that hire them will be hiring more its just like the drug trade as long as there is a demand there will always be someone willing to take the risk

JES   October 22nd, 2009 9:17 am ET

Who ever is here that came into this country that are illegal send them home.

Why can't we see that they are draining our services that are here for the people that pay taxes and are legal citizens of the Ubited States.

This country was built from people wanting a better life but they came in the front door, llearned the English language, took classes to know our Country and agreed to live by our laws.

Send them all back to where they came from. The people that hire the so be sent to jail.

Tate   October 22nd, 2009 9:14 am ET

Who are the 1 in 4 that dont want criminals punished?

Randolph Carter   October 22nd, 2009 9:14 am ET

It's simple, really. Pass a law stating that any company that employs illegals will have all of its assets seized by the federal govenment and auctioned off to the highest bidder. The whistle blower gets 10% of the proceeds and the government keeps the rest. It won't cost a dime, in fact it will bring in money for the government. Problem solved. Have a nice day!

Ignorance is Bliss   October 22nd, 2009 9:13 am ET

America still suffers from xenophobia. Blame the immigrants on all our problems. It's not our fault that we have run up gigantic budget deficits – it's the immigrants! It's not our fault that we allowed the mortgage crisis to occur – it's the immigrants! It's not our fault that China has used slave labor to suck jobs from the American heartland – it's the immigrants from Mexico! It's not our fault we have bankrupted our country by squandering resources in Iraq – it's the immigrants! It is always easier to blame someone else for your problems.

Ron   October 22nd, 2009 9:13 am ET

this is not new!!! i've almost known how most americans feel. While we do not want to hit an illegal immigrant over the head because they came and now scrapping for work and food. We also do not believe having no secure border and allowing illegals to entered endlessly is not good for the nation. I suggest liberal new outlet such as CNN began to look at this story from the real perspective of most americans. Shinning a light and camera into the face of a white guy arresting elligals or protesting illegals and imply racism is not doing this issue any good. I dont have a red-neck and i'm not white. I am also a legal immigrant to this country for 30 years now and i think we have border problem....what does that say about me? where is the light and the camera to shine a light on my perspective?

henry   October 22nd, 2009 9:11 am ET

throw them out and close the borders already.

Andi   October 22nd, 2009 9:10 am ET

CNN commissioned a poll on this? Wow. As if.....

Dominican mama 4 Obama   October 22nd, 2009 9:09 am ET

Virtually every country that is close to or annexed to another has an illegal immigration problem. Dominican Republic has it with Haiti. The USA with any other country. Illegal immigration depletes the resources of the encumbered country. It therefore goes without saying that the legal residents of said country would want illegal immigration decreased. Duh!

Sometimes I wonder what's in the Wheaties of these "pollsters"!

G2   October 22nd, 2009 9:08 am ET

Immigrants who work, pay taxes and obey the law should have a path to citizenship...the whole problem with our country is laziness and arrogance. We have people who would rather be on welfare or disability than working. They feel entitled to welfare, food stamps, WIC, disability etc. They think that they are "too good" to do the jobs that these hardworking immigrants do. 50% of our own citizens don't work. 65% of our own citizens pay no federal income tax at all. We can't run a country with the hardest working 35% of the people doing most of the work and paying all of the taxes. Lets trade Mexico one of our lazy citizens for one of their hard working citizens. We'd be a better country.

Dartlibertarian   October 22nd, 2009 9:07 am ET

The best way to end illegal immigration is to provide a way to make it legal. We are a country of immigrants, with the exception of the Native Americans. I want my mother-in-law to come to visit for 3 weeks to help with and meet our baby, but in South American countries, the rejection rate of tourist visas can be as high as 95% per day. She won't come here illegally, she won't stay here illegally, but I can understand why some people choose to stay illegally. I know of people who would like to become naturalized or legalized, and they are good solid citizens apart from their residency status. Finding a way to be fair about immigration is the most important thing to me personally, not the expensive route of deportation. In some cases, deportation is a death sentence.

ANDROLOMA, Commerce City, Colorado   October 22nd, 2009 9:05 am ET

The sudden influx of illegals for the last ten years has certainly changed the entire cultural aspect of the city I was raised in. Because the demographic has dynamically shifted language barriers, depressed wages, and reduced job opportunity have given us this extraordinarily robust economy (sic).
What has been done cannot be undone. It was an inevitable consequence, and will produce its own ramifications. Everyone will adapt around each other, as we have done. But traffic was bad enough without adding to the problem.

Grahame   October 22nd, 2009 9:02 am ET

Good Plan except your grocery bill will go through the roof when the farmers can't get anybody to pick the produce they grow. Americans won't do it since they somehow think it's beneath their dignity and refuse to work for rock bottom wages anyway.

So much for projecting your collective minds forward beyond the next 24 hours, or the next instalment of the price is right.

Steve - Dallas   October 22nd, 2009 9:01 am ET

No one opposes LEGAL immigration.... illegal immigrants are not immigrants... they are trespassers. If someone broke into you house and then announced they were illegal family members... you would call the cops!

If we need additional IMMIGRANTS then lets open Ellis Islands along the border and allow immigration in an order fashion.

Greg, MN   October 22nd, 2009 9:01 am ET

I live not far from an extremely high concentration of immigrants because of packing plants. Most presumably legal, but no doubt some illegal. I have no problem with the people. I would just as soon send some of the Americans to lazy to work to Mexico as a trade. Since unemployment is hitting high #'s maybe we should cut down on all immigration. Perhaps $15/hour, health insurance, and some modest retirement benefits would be appealing to some Americans now.

turdburglar   October 22nd, 2009 9:00 am ET

CNN Poll: 3 out of 4 want illegal immigration decreased

- 1 in 4 polled are illegal immigrants

Steve - Dallas   October 22nd, 2009 8:59 am ET

No one opposes LEGAL immigration.... illegal immigrants are not immigrants... they are trespassers. If someone broke into you house and then announced they were illegal family members... you would call the cops!

If we need additional IMMIGRANTS

Lady Pilot   October 22nd, 2009 8:59 am ET

I say deport them. Many people don't realize what illegal immigrants cost Americans. They don't pay taxes, medicare and etc., BUT they receive medical treatment and their children go to school, all of which are payed by those of us who work and pay taxes. It's bad enough for the working to pay for those who don't work, but now we're paying for those who are here illegally. Wake up people. Let's send them all back to their homelands.

Unemployed in IOWA   October 22nd, 2009 8:58 am ET

Democrates DONT WANT A DECREASE in illegals, because they will lose their support. Democrates and Obama are CORRUPT and full of LIES that destroy the safety of the USA and destroys the American way of life for our children and grandchildren. The Democrates and some Republicans dont carer about you, they care about ONLY THEMSELVES. The government is corrupt and full of LIERS that do not support those who elected them. it is time to VOTE THEM ALL OUT.

MJ   October 22nd, 2009 8:55 am ET

No kidding!!!??? The people have spoken.

Mike Syracuse, NY   October 22nd, 2009 8:54 am ET

Hopefully this will send a message to uber-liberal Obama that 'comprehensive immigration reform' means STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. How about using some of that stimulus money to pay a $500 bounty for each illegal turned in? Of the 12 million illegals at least 25% must hold jobs. 3 million X $500 each means 'creating' 3 million jobs for real Americans at a cost of only 1.5 billion. A tiny drop in the bucket of the $800 billion stimulus. The employers of the illegals would be forced to pay deportation costs.

Monica Nagle   October 22nd, 2009 8:54 am ET

If they have jobs here, they should be able to stay her on a work visa. If not, then they should be deported. We taxpayers should not be shouldering the burden of paying for social services (education, health care, etc.) for illegal aliens!

Just Say No to Socialism   October 22nd, 2009 8:49 am ET

Wont happen in this administration. They are too busy growing government and spreading the wealth, and that includes among illegals

Cindy   October 22nd, 2009 8:49 am ET

Obama, the teleprompter president won’t push to pass a comprehensive immigration reform until after the 2010 election, the tax evading Democratic Party needs the votes and spin to make themselves “look” good.

Mark from Louisiana   October 22nd, 2009 8:48 am ET

The illegal immigrants are taking jobs, costing us billions of dollars in unpaid health care, and lord help you if you get into a car accident with them. Deport them all, let them get in line with the people from all over the world who want to legally come to our country.

I have a friend from Canada who would like to move here, he has funds to start his own business, support himself and his family and after three years is no closer to his dream, but he waits his turn in line to come here. The hispanics should have to follow the same rules.

And don't spout the old line that they do jobs Americans won't do. With 10% unemployment I think any job offered will be taken.

Milo Ippolito   October 22nd, 2009 8:43 am ET

If you deported Lou Dobbs, your polls would likely show a dramatic improvement in public perception of immigrants. No one has done more to plant seeds of hatred against Latinos than Mr. Independent.

John D.   October 22nd, 2009 8:43 am ET

This is a true Poll. What will Congress and Obama do with it. The majority of the people say we have an immigration problem. They are not saying we need to give them amnesty like the Dems want. They are saying we need to send them back home. They are a burden to every legal citizen in the country. Get them out of the Country. If they want to come in, make them go through the same system every other immigrant had to go through. Learn English and swear alligence.
NOTHING short of this will do...................................

ran   October 22nd, 2009 8:42 am ET

Need to stop the" if born on US soil automatic citizenship" because each person born you have 2 illegals(mom and dad). Needs to be one parent must already be a US citizen.

Any employer caught with illegal workers pay a $100,000.00 and 1 yr. in jail. for each worker.

Demand some form of picture identification before any services are giving ( school, health care, etc.)

Illegals is just like for profit health insurance it is all about the money.

The Real Tom Paine   October 22nd, 2009 8:40 am ET

This is about as idiotic as polling people in whether or not they want an increase in violent crime. No one I know wants to see an increase in illegals here: its a question of how to solve the problem. The folks who are attending the Teabagger rallies, who are taking it upon themselves to go looking for illegals without legal authority are also the ones who want us to spend billions on fences and to redeploy troops to the border. Either we create a guest worker program that allows people to work her legally, pay taxes, etc, or we continue nibbling away at the problem.

Jay1975   October 22nd, 2009 8:39 am ET

The 1 out 0f 4 is either a liberal politician, here illegally or makes money off of illegal labor.

mj   October 22nd, 2009 8:36 am ET

Well duh, it's "illegal".

Jeffery Meaux, Sr.   October 22nd, 2009 8:35 am ET

It is very costly to the taxpayers to provide social services to illegal immigrants, if the Constitution of the United States states that we must provide social services to them, then they should be deported.

Retired US Army Officer-Kansas   October 22nd, 2009 8:31 am ET

We are a nation of immigrants, a melting pot, but some seem to have a problem understanding the term illegal immigrant. That is an individual that has enyered the nation illegally, they have broken the law, they are in fact crimminals regardless of the reason they entered our nation illegally. Those that prey upon and hire illegals are themselves crimminals having broken federal labor laws. Illegals should be deported and those that knowingly hire and prey upon illegals should be jailed.

A.B.   October 22nd, 2009 8:31 am ET

Despite the fact that the majority of Americans want illegal immigration reduced and undocumented immigrants deported, the U.S. government is not going to undertake an expensive and arduous mass deportation operation because the majority of Americans will not support it and the business community will balk at such an undertaking. This country has always been and is still dependent on free and cheap labor. The illegal and legal immigrants are doing jobs that most Americans will not do. Businesses cannot or will not raise wages to attract American workers to those undesirable jobs. Mass deportations would lead to higher labor costs, especially in the agricultural sector, which would get passed on to American consumers in the form of higher product and service prices.

Adrienne   October 22nd, 2009 8:30 am ET

This is NOT an ethnic issue; it is an economic one. We (the middle class which supports this country & economy) simply cannot afford the tremendous drain on funds for social services, schools, medical care, etc. It's all about the numbers. It's not rocket science.

Eddie   October 22nd, 2009 8:29 am ET

Here we go blaming illegal immigrants for everything. Nevermind that US businesses routinely exploit immigrant labor every single day.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@PrestonCNN: @dabeard Monday is not my favorite day, but when the Pats beat the Jets and your colleagues are from NY, it takes the edge off.
Updated: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:43:42 -0800
@PrestonCNN: Five hrs. of raking leaves on Sunday = bad back, bad knees and a bad attitude on Monday.
Updated: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:23:55 -0800
@PrestonCNN: Kansas Democrat to retire: http://bit.ly/6ztgME
Updated: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:07:36 -0800
@PrestonCNN: I tweeted this late last night: The RNC's Monday plan to target centrist Democrats: http://bit.ly/92MgoZ
Updated: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:23:21 -0800
@PrestonCNN: The RNC's Monday plan to target centrist Democrats: http://bit.ly/92MgoZ
Updated: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:52:21 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP