Undocumented Immigrants 'Threaten' Traditional US Beliefs, Customs and Economy, Says Poll
Polling data revealed Americans are "threatened" by undocumented immigrants coming into the U.S. The poll, conducted by Reuters and Ipsos, found 75 percent of Americans view undocumented immigrants as a problem for the country's beliefs and customs.
Of Republican respondents, 86 percent said undocumented immigrants are a problem. According to Reuters, the issue of immigration could be a major topic of debate, along with the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, in November's midterm elections.
The survey, conducted online, revealed Hispanics and liberals would welcome an executive action by President Barack Obama addressing the immigration crisis.
As Latin Post reported, Obama could use executive action to address the immigration situation and border crisis by September.
"Because House Republicans are blocking common sense reforms that have already been passed through the Senate, the president is not going to stand by and not allow any solutions to be put in place. The president is going to consider what solutions he can put in place within the confines of the law," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest during a press briefing on Monday.
Earnest acknowledged that legal options and recommendations are underway from the Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department. The reports are due to Obama by the end of August.
"I'm not in a position to speculate about what that review might ultimately conclude. The time frame for that review is the end of the summer, and the President expects to carefully consider their review and act on it relatively quickly," Earnest added.
The survey, however, stated "the rest of the nation" might not be as welcoming of an executive action. The White House and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have previously stated legal immigration would benefit businesses, but 63 percent of respondents said immigrants "place a burden" on the U.S. economy.
While there has been an influx of unaccompanied and undocumented children crossing the border into the U.S., 45 percent said the number of immigrants legally entering the country should be reduced. Seventeen percent were more welcoming and open to allowing more immigrants into the U.S. Only 38 percent of respondents said the current method of legal immigration should remain the same.
The New England region opposed undocumented immigration more than the rest of the country. Among New England respondents, 76 percent opposed undocumented immigration. The national average in opposition to undocumented immigration was 70 percent.
Immigration has become a hot topic in New Hampshire's senate race, with Republican senate candidate Scott Brown launching a television advertisement attacking incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, for being "pro-amnesty." The latest polling data has Shaheen leading Brown 52 percent to 42 percent.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll included responses from 2,014 Americans with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
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