Illegal Immigration: One In Four Knows An Illegal Immigrant, But GOP Sees A Problem

YouGov
February 27, 2013, 4:00 PM GMT+0

(Week of 2/23/2013) Republicans have been more concerned than Democrats about the problem of illegal immigration, but it’s not necessarily because they have more experience with it. In the latest Economist/YouGov Poll. 44% of Republicans (compared with just 26% of Democrats) say immigration is a serious problem in their local community. But just as many Democrats as Republicans KNOW an illegal citizen.

In fact, just about one in four overall say they personally know an illegal immigrant: 25% of Democrats and 25% of Republicans know someone here illegally.

46% of those who live in the West see immigration as a serious local problem. The percentage is lower elsewhere. 38% of those who live in the West say they know an illegal immigrant personally.

Democrats tend to be more open to immigration, although majorities in both parties support allowing those brought here illegally as children to remain if they join the U.S. military. Nearly two in three Democrats would also extend that privilege to those who came to the U.S. illegally as children who attend college. Just over a third of Republicans support that.

However, overall more favor both these proposals than oppose them.

The President’s approval rating on handling immigration is just 36%; 46% disapprove.

Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here

Photo source: Press Association