Hey, Congress! Get a load of this immigration poll

A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg News Poll to be released momentarily shows a startling break between what Americans feel about illegal immigrants and what a minority of Congress is saying, or rather shouting.

The new poll reveals that a large majority of Americans--including two-thirds of Republicans--favor allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens under certain conditions. Only 23% of those polled oppose allowing immigrants to legalize their status by paying fines, learning English and meeting other requirements. Such requirements are a central tenet of the controversial compromise legislation stalled in the Senate, suggesting opposition comes from a small but very vocal minority who call such provisions "amnesty."

The new poll also found that President Bush's approval rating has sunk to 34%, down from 45% last September and the lowest such rating registered by The Times in his presidency. Even his approval among Republicans is down to 70% from 83% last fall.

Another poll finding: fully 69% of Americans (71% of registered voters) believe the country is seriously on the wrong track, nearly the worst measure of pessimism in 15 years.

This could help explain why the same polling data shows the approval rating of Congress has fallen to its lowest level in a decade of Times polls. As Noam Levey reported in this morning's Times, only 27% of Americans approve of Congress' job under the new Democratic majority. That's down from 36% in January.

Only 36% approve of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's job while--Hello there, Newt--46% say they approved of Newt Gingrich's job when he took over in 1994. (Alas for Newt, during his Speakership his favorability ratings never topped 30%. Time does make the heart grow fonder.)

To read Janet Hook's complete Times story, click here. The story also contains a pdf file with the poll data.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[enforcement1st]

You know what? I'll bet the Spanish speaking folks in Los Angeles were given this poll. I know I wasn't asked. Let's enforce the LAWS on the books, then see about legalizing those here illegally.

[vondur]

Whom did you ask, the illegal aliens, or the companies that profit from cheap illegal labor? Most other polls point to the exact opposite of your "poll"; nice try in trying to manipulate public opinion.

[Steve]

Why should we care about anyone's opinion on this topic if they aren't directly affected by the massive influx of illiterate poor people? And who cares about a path to citizenship? It's not whether we allow them to be citizens or not, it's whether they are in the US or not.

[Tom]

LOL The LA Slimes rides again. Why don't you just capitulate completely and become a Spanish only paper. Hispandering is something you guys to so oh very well.

Polls are meaningless in this debate. For every poll you find yes, I'll find two that say no. The difference being, I can at least admit that polls can and are manipulated to get the result they want.

Nice try LA Slimes!!

[David B]

Where was this poll given? Must people want are laws enforced first. Stop businesses from hiring illegals,stop the flow of people coming here illegally.
Then and only then do we address the people here illegally.

[LibsLieLike IBreathe]

Hey LA Times, next time conduct your poll somewhere else other than the local taco truck. I have yet to talk to ANYONE not speaking spanish only who supports AMNESTY for the 20 million illegal invaders.

[valycat]

1,183 people polled! Big deal!!!
This is typical LATimes liberal slant/hype shouting headlines - pro illegal aliens. No wonder California is such a problem for the rest of the nation.

[E. Scott Channell]

I am very curious as to how this poll was conducted and would love to see some supporting evidence that the "large majority" of Americans support this bill - I know that I sure don't.

[JD]

The poll is an example of responsible, diligent journalism. I have renewed faith in the American Public, because the status quo is unacceptable. It's time for reform, and as imperfect as it might always be, you can always make adjustments in the future.

[StorminQ]

A fine example of push polling. Why not ask how many Americans favor the notion that the so called temporary "Z" Visas being proposed will allow immediate, indefinite and virtually unconditional legal status before border enforcement measures have been implemented and without imposing any penalties to would be recipients whatsoever?

[Mark Smith]

Who exactly is being poled here? The illegal aliens? It is exactly this form of trying to make the news rather than just simply reporting it that has turned the LA Times and many other "established" newspapers into financial sinkholes. People are tired of the attempts of the Times (amongst others) to push their bias regarding various news stories and are voting with their pocketbooks.

[JR]

LOL! "Under certain conditions." Like what? After the border is closed and the fence is built? Might want to include facts like that. And you guys wonder why your circulation is in the toilet? Good grief.

[Caliban]

I am not surprised...normal people respond logically when given rational questions...sorry blogosphere-talk radio droids of the right wing...you are a minority...angry, yes...hostile, yes...cut your nose to spite your face, A BIG YES...in the normal majority, NO. The average American knows better and is very wise/savvy. It is time for the anti-immigrant crowd to pack up their bags and move to Los Cabos! Back to cussing, swearing and spitting...

[Legilization not Nativism]

Now we know where that 23% is writing to let out their frustrations!

PS
It wouldn't make a different after about the 1,183 individuals they chose. Its simple statistics.

[Michael Almeida]

I'm guessing the LA Times is still unaware of the Rasmussen poll? It's also interesting to note that alot of the LA Times Immigration Polls are done in both English AND SPANISH. It should be obvious to anyone that Spanish-speakers will be more inclined to support legalization for illegal immigrants, especially in regions that have high concentrations of illegal immigrants.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

[John Bowman]

Gray Davis put his faith in an LA Times poll, look what happened to him. Moral of the story? Don't believe any LA Times poll or immigration story.

[Joey]

Please LA Times, your are a racist newspaper? The Mexican in Mexico booed mIss USA for what? Illegal are illegals. If you love them, let them live in your house but not in the USA. The Poll you did are mostly Spanish that favors the USA to be like the corrupt, illiterate mexican government.

[Julian Franco]

You people are in lala land!!! Where is your data? It was grassroots uproar that killed the pendng bill to grant amnesty to the illegals in the senate.

[Will]

THe LA Times polls have been off many times -- almost advocating polling supporting the newspapers own editorial position. Can we say Gray Davis? If everyone who supposedly supports "amnesty" read the fine points of the so-called "bi-partisan legislation", 90% of the country would be against the proposal. Hiint: Read the Rasmussen report as mentioned earlier. Before anyone can discuss legalization issues the border needs to be adressed first. How can you legalize 12-20 million indviduals when they are all here in most cases because there is no border security to begin with? Also, I know of no one who is "anti-immigrant" -- legal immigration is fine. It is ILLEGAL immigration that we are discussing here with rational viewpoints. Sure there are a few who are overboard in comments but they are represented equally on the right, left and those who advocate open-borders.

[danny ibarra]

Sounds like you polled citizens of Huntington Park, You got to be serious! You don't need to be a genius to realize the outcome.

[No way Jose]

You must be joking. Every day this is on the news more and more Americans are against this awful amnesty bill. If you can't report honestly and fairly, then just keep your mouth shut. The LA Times is more worthless than George Bush.

[John Silvers]

It seems the LA Times is polling its editors again. Since journalists no longer exist now days, this is the kind of junk that Americans are forced fed as "news" by today’s biased, agenda driven media.

[Waset Regir]

This is why I don't subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. Are you being funded by the Mexican government? As someone above my post already stated, I may know 2 or 3 fools who think giving the Great American Sleepover (better known as Amnesty) is a good thing to do, but the rest of the people I know agree that this bill and any bill that GIVES citizenship to illegal aliens is bad for the citzenry.

Let me know when the poll on reparations is ready for viewing, I'm sure you won't call any African Americans and ask them about that issue. Oh, and while you're at it, what's the status of the 9th ward in New Orleans? Are the houses built back up yet? Can the citizens return to their native city, or have the illegal aliens taken up residence on the Promenade?

WASET

[Walter Hoskins]

There are people who drive down your street well above the speed limit and they don't get caught. Should we raise the speed limit to accomadate them? Not likely nor should we issue a mass legalization only to have more on the way. This poll is clearly nonsense

[Keith]

I'm sure that most Americans don't object to a path to citizenship after certain conditions are met. But I'll lay money that a $3500 fine won't cut it with most folks. Poll questions can be framed to push results anyway a pollster wants. Ask the question, "Do you think an American citizenship is worth $3500?" See what results you get with that question.