Here are the results
Immigration Polling – Key Findings from 26 state and national voter surveys conducted between June 22 and July 3, 2014 by Harper Polling, Inc.
• Voters across the country recognize the immigration system is broken. The proportion of voters who believe the United States immigration system is in need of fixing does not dip below 84% in any region. By a 16 to 1 ratio, voters believe the system is in need of fixing versus those who think the system is functioning the way it should. 86% of Republicans believe Congress should take action to fix the immigration system. 79% of Independents agree.
• Voters overwhelmingly reject argument that President's unwillingness to enforce laws is grounds not to pass immigration reform. Nearly 3 out of 4 voters (72%) reject the argument that the Administration's unwillingness to enforce laws is a reason for Congress not to act. 2 out of 3 Republicans reject this argument as well. That number increases to 69% among Independents.
• Voters don’t want Washington to wait to fix the immigration system. 80% of voters want Congress to act this year, with nearly half calling it "very important" they act this year. In every region, at least 73% believe it is either very or somewhat Important that Congress act on immigration reform this year. 77% of Republicans say it is important that Congress act, while 53% say it is very important. 74% of Independents believe it is important for Congress to act this year.
Voters support the principles outlined by House leadership.
More than 60% of voters support the basic immigration plan laid out in Speaker Boehner's "immigration standards". 54% of Republicans support an immigration reform plan that secures our borders, expands visas for high-skill workers and farm workers, provides an employer verification program, allows young persons brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents an opportunity to earn citizenship, and provides visas to live and work here legally to undocumented immigrants without a criminal record who pay penalties and back taxes. Only 37% oppose. Among Independents, 62% support and only 26% oppose.
• Voters support establishing a legal status for undocumented immigrants. 2/3 of voters support legal status for undocumented immigrants. A majority of Republicans (54%) support legal status.
• Republicans want their next presidential candidate to support immigration reform. Republicans would rather vote for a presidential candidate in 2016 that is from a party that supports reform (71%) than one from a party that opposes it (15%).
Q: Would you say that things in the country are going in the right direction, or have they gottenoff on the wrong track?
Party Affiliation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
|
|
|
Right Direction |
9.95% |
43.41% |
17.31% |
|
|
|
|
|
Wrong Track |
87.96% |
42.93% |
71.15% |
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
2.09% |
13.66% |
11.54% |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Right Direction |
28.20% |
21.79% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wrong Track |
60.15% |
72.65% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
11.65% |
5.56% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
||||
Right Direction |
23.61% |
22.86% |
25.30% |
26.56% |
|
|||
Wrong Track |
62.50% |
70.00% |
64.46% |
67.19% |
|
|||
Not sure |
13.89% |
7.14% |
10.24% |
6.25% |
|
|
||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|||
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Hispanic/Latino African American |
Other |
||||||
Right Direction |
11.58% |
18.18% |
57.48% |
23.08% |
||||
Wrong Track |
85.21% |
63.64% |
26.77% |
53.85% |
||||
Not sure |
3.22% |
18.18% |
15.75% |
23.08% |
||||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
121 State Street HarperPolling.com [email protected]
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Q: Which of the following issues is most important in deciding how you will vote for Congressthis year: The Economy, Jobs, Spending, Obamacare, Immigration, National Security, Taxes, or Moral issues like abortion and gay marriage?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
|
Economy |
21.79% |
32.83% |
20.20% |
|
|
|
Jobs |
3.91% |
20.71% |
19.19% |
|
|
|
Spending |
13.97% |
9.09% |
16.16% |
|
|
|
Obamacare |
27.93% |
15.15% |
14.14% |
|
|
|
Immigration |
6.15% |
5.05% |
6.06% |
|
|
|
National Security |
8.94% |
4.55% |
4.04% |
|
|
|
Taxes |
0.00% |
1.52% |
4.04% |
|
|
|
Moral Issues |
11.17% |
5.56% |
10.10% |
|
|
|
Not sure |
6.15% |
5.56% |
6.06% |
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
|
|
Economy |
26.19% |
25.89% |
|
|
|
|
Jobs |
13.10% |
15.18% |
|
|
|
|
Spending |
10.32% |
14.73% |
|
|
|
|
Obamacare |
19.84% |
19.64% |
|
|
|
|
Immigration |
4.37% |
7.14% |
|
|
|
|
National Security |
5.95% |
6.25% |
|
|
|
|
Taxes |
1.59% |
1.34% |
|
|
|
|
Moral Issues |
10.32% |
6.70% |
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
8.33% |
3.13% |
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
||
Economy |
37.88% |
13.43% |
27.85% |
24.86% |
||
Jobs |
25.76% |
17.91% |
12.66% |
9.73% |
||
Spending |
7.58% |
17.91% |
12.66% |
11.89% |
||
Obamacare |
7.58% |
22.39% |
19.62% |
23.24% |
||
Immigration |
4.55% |
4.48% |
5.70% |
6.49% |
||
National Security |
6.06% |
4.48% |
6.33% |
6.49% |
||
Taxes |
1.52% |
0.00% |
2.53% |
1.08% |
||
Moral Issues |
3.03% |
11.94% |
7.59% |
10.27% |
||
Not sure |
6.06% |
7.46% |
5.06% |
5.95% |
||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
African |
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
Economy |
24.25% |
12.50% |
32.28% |
23.53% |
Jobs |
9.30% |
37.50% |
23.62% |
14.71% |
Spending |
13.95% |
25.00% |
7.87% |
14.71% |
Obamacare |
20.93% |
0.00% |
17.32% |
20.59% |
Immigration |
6.98% |
0.00% |
4.72% |
0.00% |
National Security |
6.31% |
0.00% |
3.15% |
11.76% |
Taxes |
1.33% |
0.00% |
2.36% |
0.00% |
Moral Issues |
11.96% |
0.00% |
3.15% |
2.94% |
Not sure |
4.98% |
25.00% |
5.51% |
11.76% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: And, what is the NEXT most important issue to you?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
Economy |
22.60% |
29.08% |
28.87% |
|
Jobs |
11.30% |
24.49% |
16.49% |
|
Spending |
14.69% |
7.65% |
17.53% |
|
Obamacare |
15.82% |
16.33% |
14.43% |
|
Immigration |
12.43% |
3.57% |
4.12% |
|
National Security |
9.04% |
6.12% |
8.25% |
|
Taxes |
3.39% |
2.04% |
5.15% |
|
Moral Issues |
7.91% |
5.10% |
2.06% |
|
Not sure |
2.82% |
5.61% |
3.09% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
Economy |
25.98% |
27.31% |
|
|
Jobs |
19.69% |
15.74% |
|
|
Spending |
10.24% |
14.81% |
|
|
Obamacare |
17.32% |
13.89% |
|
|
Immigration |
5.51% |
8.80% |
|
|
National Security |
9.06% |
6.02% |
|
|
Taxes |
2.76% |
3.70% |
|
|
Moral Issues |
4.33% |
6.94% |
|
|
Not sure |
5.12% |
2.78% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
Economy |
28.79% |
30.88% |
30.97% |
20.44% |
Jobs |
24.24% |
16.18% |
19.35% |
14.92% |
Spending |
9.09% |
7.35% |
10.97% |
16.57% |
Obamacare |
12.12% |
16.18% |
13.55% |
18.78% |
Immigration |
3.03% |
7.35% |
6.45% |
8.84% |
National Security |
6.06% |
5.88% |
7.74% |
8.84% |
Taxes |
9.09% |
2.94% |
1.94% |
2.21% |
Moral Issues |
4.55% |
4.41% |
4.52% |
7.18% |
Not sure |
3.03% |
8.82% |
4.52% |
2.21% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Race/Ethnicity
|
|
|
African |
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
Economy |
25.42% |
33.33% |
31.20% |
22.22% |
Jobs |
11.53% |
33.33% |
28.80% |
22.22% |
Spending |
14.92% |
0.00% |
8.00% |
11.11% |
Obamacare |
16.95% |
22.22% |
12.00% |
13.89% |
Immigration |
9.15% |
0.00% |
2.40% |
8.33% |
National Security |
8.47% |
11.11% |
7.20% |
2.78% |
Taxes |
3.05% |
0.00% |
3.20% |
5.56% |
Moral Issues |
7.12% |
0.00% |
2.40% |
5.56% |
Not sure |
3.39% |
0.00% |
4.80% |
8.33% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: When thinking of the issue of immigration, do you believe the United States immigrationsystem is functioning the way it should or is in need of fixing?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Functioning the way it should |
7.47% |
5.64% |
9.18% |
In need of fixing |
89.08% |
84.62% |
82.65% |
Not sure |
3.45% |
9.74% |
8.16% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
|
|
Functioning the way it should |
8.47% |
5.48% |
|
|
|
|
In need of fixing |
81.05% |
91.32% |
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
10.48% |
3.20% |
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
||
Functioning the way it should |
12.90% |
5.97% |
4.46% |
7.73% |
|
|
In need of fixing |
77.42% |
91.04% |
86.62% |
86.19% |
|
|
Not sure |
9.68% |
2.99% |
8.92% |
6.08% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
African |
|
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
||
Functioning the way it should |
5.76% |
|
0.00% |
9.76% |
8.57% |
|
In need of fixing |
90.51% |
100.00% |
75.61% |
82.86% |
||
Not sure |
3.73% |
|
0.00% |
14.63% |
8.57% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: Would you support or oppose an immigration reform plan that secures our borders, expandsvisas for high-skill workers and farm workers, provides an employer verification program, allows young persons brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents an opportunity to earn citizenship, and provides visas to live and work here legally to undocumented immigrants without a criminal record who pay penalties and back taxes?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Strongly support |
25.47% |
35.68% |
30.21% |
Somewhat support |
31.68% |
25.41% |
20.83% |
Somewhat oppose |
16.15% |
13.51% |
25.00% |
Strongly oppose |
21.12% |
16.22% |
13.54% |
Not sure |
5.59% |
9.19% |
10.42% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
|
Male |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strongly support |
30.87% |
|
30.66% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Somewhat support |
24.78% |
|
28.77% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Somewhat oppose |
18.70% |
|
15.09% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strongly oppose |
15.22% |
|
19.81% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
10.43% |
|
5.66% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
|
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
||||
Strongly support |
38.33% |
|
31.75% |
23.81% |
33.72% |
|
|||
Somewhat support |
23.33% |
|
23.81% |
26.53% |
29.07% |
|
|||
Somewhat oppose |
15.00% |
|
15.87% |
21.77% |
13.95% |
|
|||
Strongly oppose |
16.67% |
|
20.63% |
20.41% |
13.95% |
|
|||
Not sure |
6.67% |
|
7.94% |
7.48% |
9.30% |
|
|||
Total |
100.00% |
|
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|||
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
African American |
Other |
|||||
Strongly support |
29.14% |
30.00% |
34.48% |
|
23.53% |
|
|||
Somewhat support |
27.70% |
40.00% |
27.59% |
|
14.71% |
|
|||
Somewhat oppose |
16.19% |
20.00% |
13.79% |
|
35.29% |
|
|||
Strongly oppose |
21.58% |
10.00% |
8.62% |
|
17.65% |
|
|||
Not sure |
5.40% |
|
0.00% |
15.52% |
|
8.82% |
|
||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
100.00% |
Q: Some inCongress have cited a concern with the current Administration’s enforcement ofexisting laws as a reason not to fix the problems that exist with the current laws. Is that concern a valid reason for Congress not to act?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Yes |
16.44% |
10.40% |
19.57% |
No |
65.75% |
67.05% |
70.65% |
Not sure |
17.81% |
22.54% |
9.78% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
9.17% |
20.73% |
|
|
|
|
|
No |
64.22% |
70.98% |
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure |
26.61% |
8.29% |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
|||
Yes |
18.18% |
6.90% |
13.53% |
|
16.97% |
|
|
No |
61.82% |
70.69% |
63.91% |
|
70.91% |
|
|
Not sure |
20.00% |
22.41% |
22.56% |
|
12.12% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
||
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Hispanic/Latino |
|
African American Other |
||||
Yes |
13.39% |
20.00% |
12.93% |
31.03% |
|||
No |
72.05% |
50.00% |
61.21% |
55.17% |
|||
Not sure |
14.57% |
30.00% |
25.86% |
13.79% |
|||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: In your opinion is it acceptable for Congress to allow things to stay the way they are at ourborder and with the immigration system, or is it better for them to take action?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Ok to stay the same |
5.19% |
6.18% |
7.61% |
They should take action |
88.96% |
80.90% |
76.09% |
Not sure |
5.84% |
12.92% |
16.30% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Gender |
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
Ok to stay the same |
6.70% |
5.50% |
|
They should take action |
79.91% |
86.00% |
|
Not sure |
13.39% |
8.50% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
|||
Ok to stay the same |
13.79% |
8.47% |
3.55% |
|
4.82% |
|
|
They should take action |
75.86% |
77.97% |
90.78% |
|
80.12% |
|
|
Not sure |
10.34% |
13.56% |
5.67% |
|
15.06% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
||
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
African |
|
|
|
|
|
White Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
||||
Ok to stay the same |
4.85% |
0.00% |
10.26% |
|
3.45% |
||
They should take action |
87.69% |
87.50% |
71.79% |
|
79.31% |
||
Not sure |
7.46% |
12.50% |
17.95% |
|
17.24% |
||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: And, still thinking about immigration reform, how important is it to you that Congress act on
immigration reform this year. Is it...
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
Very Important |
58.94% |
59.43% |
39.56% |
|
Somewhat Important |
25.17% |
23.43% |
34.07% |
|
Not Very Important |
8.61% |
6.86% |
15.38% |
|
Not At All Important |
4.64% |
2.29% |
7.69% |
|
Not Sure |
2.65% |
8.00% |
3.30% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
Very Important |
55.05% |
54.77% |
|
|
Somewhat Important |
24.31% |
28.64% |
|
|
Not Very Important |
9.17% |
9.55% |
|
|
Not At All Important |
3.67% |
5.03% |
|
|
Not Sure |
7.80% |
2.01% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
Very Important |
52.63% |
51.79% |
58.16% |
53.99% |
Somewhat Important |
29.82% |
26.79% |
21.99% |
28.83% |
Not Very Important |
7.02% |
14.29% |
9.93% |
7.98% |
Not At All Important |
7.02% |
1.79% |
4.26% |
4.29% |
Not Sure |
3.51% |
5.36% |
5.67% |
4.91% |
Total |
100.00% 100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
African |
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
Very Important |
55.68% |
55.56% |
54.39% |
50.00% |
Somewhat Important |
28.79% |
11.11% |
21.93% |
25.00% |
Not Very Important |
8.71% |
22.22% |
9.65% |
10.71% |
Not At All Important |
4.17% |
11.11% |
1.75% |
14.29% |
Not Sure |
2.65% |
0.00% |
12.28% |
0.00% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: Continuing to think about undocumented immigrants, which ONE of the followingstatements regarding undocumented immigrants do you MOST agree with?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
Deport all undocumented immigrants |
43.45% |
32.12% |
35.71% |
Legal status without US Citizenship |
37.24% |
26.06% |
36.90% |
Legal status with eligibility for US Citizenship |
15.17% |
31.52% |
21.43% |
Not Sure |
4.14% |
10.30% |
5.95% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Gender |
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
Deport all undocumented immigrants |
33.33% |
41.05% |
|
Legal status without US Citizenship |
29.90% |
35.26% |
|
Legal status with eligibility for US Citizenship |
25.49% |
21.05% |
|
Not Sure |
11.27% |
2.63% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 60 or older |
|||
Deport all undocumented immigrants |
38.78% |
38.18% |
38.35% |
35.03% |
|
|
Legal status without US Citizenship |
30.61% |
41.82% |
24.06% |
36.94% |
|
|
Legal status with eligibility for US Citizenship |
20.41% |
12.73% |
27.82% |
24.20% |
|
|
Not Sure |
10.20% |
7.27% |
9.77% |
3.82% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
Race/Ethnicity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
African |
|
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
||
Deport all undocumented immigrants |
41.77% |
0.00% |
26.85% |
50.00% |
||
Legal status without US Citizenship |
36.14% |
77.78% |
22.22% |
23.08% |
||
Legal status with eligibility for US Citizenship |
16.87% |
22.22% |
40.74% |
11.54% |
||
Not Sure |
5.22% |
0.00% |
10.19% |
15.38% |
||
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
Q: When thinking about the 2016 Presidential election, would you rather vote for a candidatefrom a political party that you believe supports immigration reform or opposes it?
Party Affiliation
|
Republican |
Democrat |
Independent |
|
|
From a Party that supports reform |
67.61% |
67.08% |
62.35% |
|
|
From a Party that opposes reform |
14.79% |
12.42% |
11.76% |
|
|
Not sure |
17.61% |
20.50% |
25.88% |
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female |
Male |
|
|
|
From a Party that supports reform |
66.67% |
65.79% |
|
|
|
From a Party that opposes reform |
10.61% |
15.79% |
|
|
|
Not sure |
22.73% |
18.42% |
|
|
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 - 39 |
40 - 49 |
50 - 59 |
60 or older |
|
From a Party that supports reform |
59.18% |
64.81% |
70.45% |
65.36% |
|
From a Party that opposes reform |
16.33% |
7.41% |
12.12% |
15.03% |
|
Not sure |
24.49% |
27.78% |
17.42% |
19.61% |
|
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
|
|
|
African |
|
|
White |
Hispanic/Latino |
American |
Other |
From a Party that supports reform |
71.14% |
55.56% |
60.00% |
50.00% |
From a Party that opposes reform |
13.82% |
0.00% |
10.48% |
23.08% |
Not sure |
15.04% |
44.44% |
29.52% |
26.92% |
Total |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
100.00% |