Nearly Half of Voters Want an Arizona-like Immigration Law in Their States

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Nearly Half of Voters Want an Arizona-like Immigration Law in Their States
Forty-eight percent of voters would like to see their state adopt a law similar to the one enacted by Arizona to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted May 19-24. Thirty-five percent oppose doing so and 17 percent are undecided.

Seventy-one percent of Republicans want their states to move in Arizona's direction. Independents favor it by a 51 percent to 33 percent margin with 20 percent undecided while Democrats oppose such a law by 51 percent to 29 percent, with 20 percent undecided.

White voters favor enacting such a law by 53 percent to 32 percent with 15 percent undecided, while blacks oppose doing so by 43 percent to 26 percent, with 31 percent undecided, as do Hispanics, by a 52 percent to 37 percent margin, with 11 percent undecided. Rasmussen Reports has found similar results in state polls it has done where it began asking voters whether they wanted an Arizona-like law. So far, those results include Georgia (55 percent in favor), Kentucky (63 percent), New Mexico (55 percent), Oregon (53 percent), South Dakota (62 percent), Washington state (52 percent) and Wisconsin (57 percent).

"The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it," said Quinnipiac's Peter A. Brown. "The strong plurality who says they would like a similar law in their own state probably portends the law will be an issue in many, many campaigns this November across the country. Depending on how those elections and court challenges come out, copy cat Arizona laws could be a hot issue in state capitals after November."

Forty-five percent believe Arizona's law will reduce illegal immigration there while 36 percent do not, with 19 percent undecided. But 45 percent also believe it will lead to discrimination against Hispanics while 40 percent do not, with 15 percent undecided.

Three-quarters of voters oppose boycotting Arizona to show displeasure over the law.

An overwhelming majority (66 percent) believe the priority in immigration reform should be stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration compared to 26 percent who say it is more important for reform to provide a path for integrating illegal immigrants into American society. Eight percent were undecided.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06...ion-law-in-th/