Arizona Poll: Majority support state's immigration law
Washington (CNN) - A majority of Arizonan voters support their state's tough new immigration law, according to a new survey.
A Rocky Mountain Poll conducted by Behavior Research Center and released Wednesday indicates that 52 percent of Arizonans back the measure, with 39 percent opposed and nine percent unsure.
The new measure, signed into law by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on April 23, requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect they are in the United States illegally. The measure also makes it a state crime to live in or travel through Arizona illegally.
The law has ignited protests in the state and across the country and some are urging economic boycotts of Arizona. Supporters say the law is needed to confront rising problems involving illegal immigrants in Arizona, particularly those with criminal records.
The Rocky Mountain Poll suggests a partisan divide, with 76 percent of Republicans favoring the new law and 58 percent of Democrats opposed to the measure. Six out of ten independent voters questioned say they back the law.
According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of white voters support the measure, with seven out of ten Hispanics opposed to the law.
Fifty-one percent of people questioned in a CBS/New York Times national poll released Tuesday say the new measure is about right, with another nine percent saying it doesn't go far enough and 36 percent saying it goes too far in its scope. But more than eight in ten questioned say its very or somewhat likely that the new law will lead to police officers detaining people of certain racial or ethnic groups more frequently than other racial or ethnic groups.
The Rocky Mountain Poll was conducted April 22-25, before during and after the legislation was signed into law, with 552 Arizona voters questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
- More red states will help pay for all K-12 students to go to private schools
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Supreme Court humors itself as it considers whether Jack Daniel's can stop a dog toy company from parodying its brand
- US State Department ends assignment restrictions that were perceived as discriminatory
- Ramen noodles and drained savings: FEC weighs allowing candidates to use political cash to pay themselves bigger salaries
- Arkansas governor signs bill that restricts transgender students' bathroom use in schools
Happy Cinco de Mayo...unless you live in Arizona, where it's just another Wednesday.
Arizona is full of gun toting racists, must be the heat, seems to have fried thier brains. Not a place I would ever go.
I live in Utah and I believe Arizona is doing the right thing with the law. The States that don't join a border have no idea the problems. I use to vacation in Mexico but it has gotten so violent, that no one is safe and we don't want this crossing into the USA anymore than it already has. It's time we stop and look at the fact "there is a real problem here". Arizona is doing what is right for her State.
It's a bad situation but someone has to solve the immigration problem. First it was the western border states that had an immigration problem. Now these states are crime ridden and broke. Then the problem crept North and east and south. You better pay attention your turn is coming.
Enough is enough! Arizonians recognize an" invasion" and have drawn a line! What part of "illegal" is not understood by the wimpy moralists ? We are supposed to be a law abiding nation !
As a U.S. Citizen, came from Europe, I think that the Arizona Law should have been extended to include the possibility that White skin illegal aliens are also living in Arizona, and other states, and they also are breaking the law and need to be returned to their countries and apply for permission to legally stay in the U.S.
For this reason, Police Officers should be given the opportunity to question both Brown skin and White skin people during a traffic violation on their legal status in the U.S. and require proof.
How many Tourist stay living in the U.S. illegally?
I think all Americans (those born in the U.S.)should have their Birth Certificates made into ID Cards with their current picture on it and carry in addition to their Driver's License and enter it into a National Database.
We U.S. Citizens should have our U.S. Citizenship Certificate turned into an ID Card with our current picture on it and carry it in addition to our Driver's License and enter it into a National Database.
I think that we could even re-do our Social Security cards to have our current picture on it.
Anything to help protect our country against illegal aliens whether Brown skin, Mexican, White skin.
A majority of Arizonan voters are Nazis.
All those people who are in support better get rid of their Housekeepers, gardners, nanny's if they own a business better find white dishwasher, white hotel workers, white garbage collectors,white farm workers etc
Not too surprising that the majority of Arizonians support this measure – this was the state that held out until 1992 to observe MLK Day.
We have to remember that just because a majority approves of a law, does not mean it is constitutional or correct. Slavery was approved by a majority as was women not being able to vote. Let's see what happens when law enforcement mistakes someone for an illegal immigrant, and yes it will happen sooner or later.
Let's look at this statement carefully...
"According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of white voters support the measure, with seven out of ten Hispanics opposed to the law."
I want to know many Hispanic VOTERS oppose the law, not Hispanics in general.
Wording is key here.
Regardless... the media is turning this law into a circus.
Federal law already requires non-resident aliens to carry their "papers" (passport, visa, green card or alien registration) at all times.
The worlds biggest racist (Rev. Al) needs to mind his own business.
Tired of all these celebrity types that don't even live here, sticking their nose in AZ's business.
Live here for a while and see first hand how out of control the illegal immigrant problem is.
The feds refused to step up and do the job we already pay them to do.
When you project this law against illegal immigration, obviously people are going to support it but this bill isn't exactly againt illegal immigration. This law is against every brown colored person, be it legal immigrants and even naturalized citizens. The media has gone too far right without telling the truth about what this bill is all about. Once the law takes effect and many citizens start filing lawsuits for illegal stop and searches, then people will realize what this is all about.
Were Hispanic polled? Did they support the law?? I assume it is one sided poll and thats why the worries of profiling is high to those concerned!
A Majority of AMERICANS support this law. Enough with the charges of "racism"...this is about our laws, the basis of our nation, not about what color anybody is. Break our laws, take the heat. If the illegals were primarily Swedish, we'd be looking for blonde blue-eyed tall people. If they were Martians, we'd be looking for little green folks with feelers. That's not "racism", that's just plain common sense.
The bleeding heart doesn't extend to the struggling citizens in the US who are dealing with the problems that come with millions of illegal immigrants in their communities. In Los Angeles, the schools have 40+ students in every classroom, they can't build schools fast enough to keep up with the birth rate of illegal immigrants who have come with nothing to have children and set up households. Our kids will suffer the consequences of this horrible breech of the public trust.
In 1986 voters granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. We were told that the laws of the 1986 amnesty act would secure our borders and put teeth into workplace enforcement. Didn't happen. We need action from the federal government to secure our border now and stop the constant trespassing on US soil from illegal immigrants. Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?
I thought it was 70% for it????? Oh I see, 76% of RepubliCAN'Ts support it... That's not what it said the FIRST TIME!!!!
Keep taking the polls that mean NOTHING – bottom line – RepubliCAN'Ts are for it and Democrats are against it! The middle – as always – is divided!!!
the poll only consisted of the upper class of arizona
I like to know when and where are those survey done? I live in Arizona and I can tell you that they haven't done any surveys here, and if they have are they asking everyone or just the ones that are for the new law.
A majority of who????
I applaud the 30% of hispanics and 42% of democrats who are willing to buck their party or culture and stand up for what is right and not bowing down to fake racist rhetoric thrown out by the liberal media.
About 8% of people in the state are illegal, so their opinion doesn't count that means 60% are for the law and 31% against. Since we have stupid laws that grant citizenship to the children of illegals I am sure they make up part of the 31%. Their opinion shouldn't count either.
Same as the National Polls....
It's federal law... AZ is trying to enforce it
There is a huge problem in the border States... and only getting worse
A majority supported Hitler's policies too. That makes it right?
Another useless poll? Say it isn't so!
The results of this poll, no matter which way it went, matter as much as a poll (i.e., in that case a vote) of CA voters to see whether a majority support Proposition 8: NONE.
Accept that the Constitution pre-empts state law and does not allow the majority to vote to redefine civil rights nor use their state's representative body to usurp the role, power and authority of the federal government. Don't like it? Then secede...and don't complain when the federal government starts treating YOU like an illegal alien when you step across the border.
I think the law is wrong.