Poll: Voters support Obama immigration change
(CNN) – A majority of voters agreed with the immigration policy unveiled by President Barack Obama last week, according to a new poll.
The Bloomberg Poll released Tuesday showed 64% of likely voters backed the shift, which would allow the children of illegal immigrants who meet certain requirements to stave off deportation for two years. Although 30% of those surveyed disagreed with the president, coveted independent voters agreed with the decision by better than a two-to-one margin.
However, support was divided along party lines. Fifty-six percent of likely Republican voters opposed the decision while 86% of Democrats issued praise. Sixty-six percent of independents backed the policy change, while 26% disagreed.
Obama announced the shift on Friday, saying it will make U.S. immigration policy "more fair, more efficient and more just." The changes would allow people younger than 30 who came to the United States before the age of 16, pose no criminal or security threat and were successful students or served in the military to receive a two-year deferral from deportation.
Mitt Romney has faced a sizable deficit among Latino voters and despite pledging to veto the DREAM Act, a law that would provide a legal pathway to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, earlier in the election cycle, he declined to say over the weekend if he would overturn the new policy if elected president.
The latest poll results underscore a challenge for the presumptive Republican presidential candidate as he attempts to court the Latino vote, the nation's largest ethnic minority who strongly supported Obama's candidacy in 2008.
Republican senator and high profile Romney backer Marco Rubio dropped plans on Monday to introduce his own immigration legislation that would grant work visas to some young Americans who entered the U.S. illegally. Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said Obama's announcement "took away our momentum and made the politics a lot tougher."
Obama and Romney are scheduled to address the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials annual conference later in the week in Florida, a key general election battleground state with a large Hispanic population.
Both candidates also released Spanish language ads this week. Romney unveiled a spot Monday attacking the president's record on the economy. Team Obama released a spot Tuesday promoting the national health care law that will run in Nevada, Colorado and Florida featuring Latino talk show host Cristina Saralegui, who endorsed the president after the policy shift, according to the campaign.
The Bloomberg National Poll surveyed 734 likely voters between June 15 and June 18 with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
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I feel Obama is doing the right thing. The GOP does also, but would never say. They can't man up
I don't think this is an accurate count. How many from High School graduating through College graduates will be out there looking for jobs are already US citizens, they will be looking at the same job market as the immigrants. They will be voting in the fall, at least most of them will be old enough.
I would think along with a high school diploma, maybe they should also pass the nationalization test and become citizens.
I am neither Republican or Democrat, I vote for the person I feel is the best person for the job.
My daughter and her friends cannot get jobs because of these illegals.
this is the most biased poll ever. the ellection is the only poll that will matter. but the media will blame the economy for obamas loss.
We can count on the Obama Administration for one thing. All politics all the time. Politics above law. Politics above reason. Politics above responsible management and Politics above the good of the nation.
Your daughters work as field hands and lawn maintenance technicians, do they? LOL
potentially, this was a human disaster in the making. Obama, could have done more early on in his presidency. Why he did not is puzzling. I support the move, however; I wish he spent more time on this rather than the healthcare.
reply to CAN, start your own business, stupid
You are doing fine President Obama. The private sector is doing fine excep the meddle class. Keep up your great job
Anyone who says they can't get a job because of illegals is full of nonsense. What kind of job is your daughter looking for. Picking berries, building houses, being a day laborer. American always looking to blame some other ethnic group for their lack of success.
Why punish the child for the crimes of their parents. These people are innocent of any wrong doing, (entering the country illegally). In many instances the US is the only country that they know. How about some of that right wing Christian compasion when considering the fate of innocent young people.
@ can really
I agree with Obama it makes sense. If the US were to deport them, they would still have to pay something... I also think that there needs something else needs to be done in the future to prevent illegals from coming here.
Well, GOP, better get used to another 4 years. Rmoney hasn't got a chance.
Funny how Jesus loving Republicans want to throw out everyone that does not look, walk, and talk like them, but this supposedly Muslim President Obama is behaving in a more Christiam manner than all of them combined. I have given up on the Religious Right, because they keep behaving in ways that are so wrong. Jesus did not, and does not, give a flip about tax cuts. In fact He explained that none of this is ours, but God's, so stop worrying about your stuff, and start worrying about your immortal soul.
If you cnnot find a job because of "illegals", then you should seriously consider upgrading your skillset. Both my teenagers found jobs, because they have marketable skills.
Way to go POTUS.
Lets see how the flip flopper handles this based on his statements during the repube primary!!!
BS – The voters are fed up with Mr. Obama. and illegals. If you or your pparents don't have the courtesy to sign in at the border, then don't come at all.
Maybe if some of the posters here would read and comprehend what is written in the article, they could save themselves the embarrassment of showing their lack of intelligence.
"allow the children of illegal immigrants who meet certain requirements to stave off deportation for two years. "
@ Can.....
if your daughter can not get a job because of the illegals as you claim then I suggest you attack the companies that are doing the hiring. That is the biggest right wing joke I have heard so far other than that now illegals will start bringing their kids here when the law fully says that it covers only the ones that are ALREADY here. Typical right wing reaction though...go on the attack before they really know the facts.
For those of you complaining the illegals have taken jobs away from you – maybe you should quit complaining on these Boards and get out and really look for a job. IF you really want to work – there are jobs out there so quit making excuses and go make a difference.
If the borders were under control, and the issues at concerning all illegals where dealt with I can see this taking place. But for President Obama to do this now, using these kids as pawns to help his re-election is outrageous. This has serious consequences to the issues of the Economy and getting illegal immigration under control..
can-your daughter and friends can,t get jobs is because people like mitt send them to china–unless they want to pick fruit
GOP is scared to death to agree with Obama on anything because saying Obama is right is a sure win in the next election. Sucks to be republican cause this party is in serious trouble. It's time to get with the 21st century GOP.