Poll - Most want tighter border but wouldn't force deportation PHOENIX (AP) - Most Arizonans want tighter enforcement of the U.S. border and existing labor laws but would not deport illegal immigrants who have jobs and no criminal record, according to a new poll. The statewide poll commissioned by The Arizona Republic found nearly two-thirds of voters don't believe the border is secure, and 85 percent say the possibility of terrorists entering through the border is a major concern. Most of the 600 respondents want an increase in the number of agents and military personnel on the border and want more enforcement against employers who hire illegal immigrants. But they also support a federal guest worker program that would allow some undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States, the poll found. Most also would support allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States if they hold jobs, have roots in the community and have no criminal record. ’I understand the people's plight and wanting to make a better life for themselves," said poll respondent Fred Moore, a 68-year-old retired appraiser. ’But on the other hand, we don't have the resources to deal with the people coming here. We're not prepared to handle it." Nearly eight in 10 of the respondents said the immigrants are a drain on the state's resources. Arizona has become the nation's busiest border crossing point for illegal immigrants. But only 28 percent of those polled said they would support deporting all undocumented immigrants. ’A lot of them have families here," said Joanna Castillo, a 33-year-old homemaker who was born in Texas and has friends who are undocumented immigrants. ’What about the children? What are they going to do with them?" Two-thirds of those surveyed said they would support a federal program for temporary foreign workers. Rosemarie Malroy, 65, said she is concerned that businesses, particularly farmers, will continue to struggle to find enough labor without a guest worker program. Her brother-in-law owns fruit orchards in Oregon. ’He is having a hard time getting workers to pick his fruit, because he said Americans don't ... want this kind of work," said Malroy. The poll commissioned by the Republic was conducted from Oct. 6-9 and had a margin or error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

We hope you found this article helpful.

Search for more immigration articles related to:
"Poll - Most want tighter border but wouldn't force deportation"

Bookmark this Page!