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Immigration by the Numbers
Rich Galen Wednesday November 30, 2005
This is the problem with writing a column about immigration: It generates more e-mails than any other subject. More than abortion. More than Hillary. More than Iraq. More than anything.
So, I am writing this with some fear and trepidation on behalf of Becki Donatelli whose servers are about to be overwhelmed.
On Monday afternoon President Bush announced his comprehensive plan to attack the problem of illegal immigration into the United States.
As I was scheduled to be on CNN opposite The James (Carville) to discuss the President's plan, I did what I often do: I yelled for help, which I got from high Administration sources. Well, not so high, but they were sources.
I got the help so that when Wolf Blitzer said we would switch to the President's remarks from Texas, I had already telegraphed the elements of the plan.
In addition, Ed Goeas and his team at The Tarrance Group have done some extensive research into voter attitudes toward the President's plan and he has agreed to allow me to share some of those results with you.
The President's plan has four elements:
1. Better control of our borders
2. Better enforcement of immigration laws within the US
3. A Temporary Worker program
4. No Amnesty
Illegals represent something under 4 percent of those residing in the US. But, because the population is about 300 million, that means some 11 million people are residing in our country illegally.
The sheer size of our country means that, short of turning the entire nation into extras in a World War II Steven Spielberg movie, it is simply not acceptable to have Federal agents breaking down doors of homes and businesses demanding "papers."
In fact, an overwhelming percentage of the people in Ed Goeas' survey agree with me. It is better to have some mechanism which will set up controls and describe a defined path to citizenship than to try to deport 11 million people.
If you look at all the cross-tabs, the elements of the President's plan enjoys the support of:
78% of Republicans,
77% of Independents
70% of Democrats
77% of Red State voters
79% of Blue State voters
78% of Whites
67% of African Americans, and
70% of Hispanics
One of the questions asked in the survey was: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: We need an immigration system that is consistent with the basic American values of fairness and equal treatment under the law.
Take a guess at how that question was answered in the survey�
Dear Mr. Mullings:
You're not going to do one of those song-lyric things again, are you?
No. Just take a guess.
Here's the answer:
92% agreed with that statement.
"Basic American values of fairness and equal treatment �" If we could only help the rest of the world understand that is at the very core of what we truly think and believe, the war against terrorism would be over in about 15 hours.
The survey also indicates there are large majorities who believe immigrants who want to participate in American society should:
Learn English (78%)
Have a job (79%)
Be law-abiding (82%)
Pay taxes (87%)
So, it appears that the President is onto something here: Americans want to protect our borders, enforce immigration laws, come up with a system which allows foreign citizens to come to America and work, but not reward illegal activities.
The James pretty much agreed with the President's plan, which gave me pause. But sometimes, we are not Republicans or Democrats.
Sometimes we are Americans.
On the Secret Decoder Ring today: A link to the Arizona Republic coverage of the President's plan, an alarming Mullfoto; and a very disturbing Catchy Caption of the Day.
--END --
Copyright © 2005 Richard A. Galen
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