Two items that might be discussed during a post-Thanksgiving session are the START treaty with Russia (the Senate must approve it), and immigration reform. On both issues, the latest Economist/YouGov poll shows a huge partisan divide.
Americans generally approve of the START treaty when they are told about it (52% admitted they had heard nothing about it before being polled), but more than one in four don’t have an opinion either way. And while the country divides 51% to 23% in favor, Republicans oppose the treaty by nearly two to one.
On immigration reform, there is even more division. Americans divide closely on whether there should be a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants – 44% are in favor, 40% are not. But the party differences are stark: 63% of Democrats sup- port a pathway to citizenship, 63% of Republicans do not.
Do you favor or oppose providing a way for illegal immigrants currently in the country to gain legal citizenship if they pass background checks, pay fines, and have jobs?
| Favor | Oppopse | Not sure | |
|---|---|---|---|
Democrat | 63% | 22% | 15% |
Republican | 25% | 63% | 12% |
Independent | 48% | 40% | 13% |
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All | 44% | 40% | 15% |
Democrats and Republicans differ, too, on whether illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children should be given permanent legal status if they have attended college or served in the military. Overall, 38% favor this, 40% oppose it. However, Republicans and Democrats agree that those college students should NOT be eligible for in-state tuition.
And when it comes to the DREAM Act, which does supply temporary legal status for children who came to the country illegally and are in college or the military, as well as a pathway to citizenship, the country is close to evenly split: 43% in favor and 41% opposed. And once again, partisans are on opposite sides.
