Polls Reflect Americans Want Immigration Reform

Two polls, one conducted by The New York Times/CBS News and the other by USA Today/ Gallup, show indications that the American public wants immigration reform. Americans are frustrated by our broken immigration system and are ready for change. Quoted from The New York Times, “Just 8 percent of Americans said the immigration system needed only minor changes. The vast majority said it needed reworking, including 44 percent who said it needed to be completely rebuilt and 45 percent who said it needed fundamental changes.” Unfortunately, no bill has been introduced to congress so far and even President Obama seems to have reservations as to whether government wants to tackle the challenge of immigration reform especially as people continue to be divided as to how to deal with illegal immigrants already in the United States. Luckily USA Today notes that even as Americans want better secured borders many are sympathetic to illegal immigrants who work hard and stay out of trouble. Quote “77% are concerned that stricter laws would mean illegal immigrants and their families who have lived productively in the USA for years would be forced to leave.”. While the views of wanting to halt immigration and being sympathetic toward illegal immigrants already in the US may seem conflicted it is good to know that the American people have sympathetic responses to innocent, hard working people who while they have broken the law mean no harm and are good citizens trying to make a better life.

Sources:http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-03-immigration-poll_N.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/us/04poll.html