Hispanic Opinion on (Illegal) Immigration

The opinion of Hispanics in the U.S. regarding immigration policy is often portrayed by the media as monolithic and in support of amnesty for illegal aliens and expanded legal immigration. In fact, the opinion of Hispanics in the U.S. is as diverse as the population itself. While Hispanic opinion as a whole is more favorable to proposals that include amnesty for illegal aliens, when the survey sample is limited to Hispanic citizens, the views expressed tend to be much more in line with those of the rest of the American population.

The following are key findings of recent polls of Hispanics on immigration to the U.S.:

Oppose increasing overall levels of immigration:

A clear majority of Hispanics in the U.S. oppose increasing current levels of immigration. Forty-three percent believe that levels should remain the same, while 13 percent want to see levels reduced. Only 31 percent favor immigration increases. (Attitude toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy, Pew Hispanic Center survey, Aug. 2005.)

Oppose benefits for illegal aliens:

By a 60 percent to 29 percent margin, native-born Hispanic Americans oppose granting driver's licenses to illegal aliens. (Attitude toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy, Pew Hispanic Center survey, Aug. 2005.)

Sizeable minority opposes a guest worker program:

Fifty-four percent of registered Hispanic voters support a guest worker program, but a significant minority - 40 percent - oppose such a plan. (National Survey of Latinos, July 2004, Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation.)

Immigration is a low priority among Hispanic voters:

Among issues of concern to Hispanic voters, immigration ranks eleventh. Education (54%), jobs (51%), health care (51%) were cited as the most pressing issues among Hispanic voters. Immigration was only cited as the most important issue by 27 percent of respondents.

Oppose a "pathway to citizenship" for illegal aliens:

A majority of Hispanic voters (52.4% to 38.2%) support ". . . legislation stating that any person living in this country illegally cannot become a United States citizen unless they reapply for citizenship legally from their country of origin." (The Latino Coalition Poll, January 2006.)

Support enforcement of employer sanctions law:

A plurality of Hispanic voters (49.9% to 41.2%) support new laws to make sure that employers can only hire workers who are in the U.S. legally. (The Latino Coalition Poll, January 2006.)

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