Poll Shows 4 Views on Immigration

A USA TODAY breakdown of public opinion, based on Galluppolls taken in April and May, finds Americans falling into four clusters thatare roughly equal in size but vary dramatically in point of view. The groupscan be characterized as “hard-liners,” “unconcerned,””ambivalent” and “welcoming.”

Among the findings in the USA TODAY analysis:

• Traditional partisanship doesn’t drive views onimmigration. Gender, education and family history seem to do as much to shapeattitudes as political party or ideology. Significant numbers of liberals andconservatives are divided among three of the four groups. Moderates spreadacross all four.

• Those who want to take the toughest steps against illegalimmigration also feel the most urgency about the subject. Two-thirds of the”hard-liners” call the issue “extremely important.” No onein the most lenient group, the “unconcerned,” feels that way.

Click here.

bh