Suppose the government does allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States legally and permanently if they meet certain requirements. For each of the following, please say whether it should or should not be a requirement. First, the immigrant -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion
%
%
%
Must have lived in U.S. for at least five years
2006 May 5-7
74
24
2
2006 Apr 7-9 ^
67
30
3
Must pay a fine for coming to U.S. illegally
2006 May 5-7
57
40
3
2006 Apr 7-9 ^
64
34
1
Must learn to speak English
2006 May 5-7
57
40
3
2006 Apr 7-9 ^
64
34
1
^ Asked of a half sample
Â鶹´«Ã½
Do you favor or oppose each of the following proposals as a way to reduce illegal immigration to the United States? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Favor
Oppose
No opinion
%
%
%
Building a wall along the border with Mexico
2006 May 5-7
42
56
2
Prohibit children of illegal immigrants from attending U.S. schools
2006 May 5-7
32
65
4
Â鶹´«Ã½
Suppose U.S. authorities were able to remove almost all illegal immigrants from the U.S. What effect do you think this would have on the U.S. economy? Do you think it would have a -- [ROTATED: very positive effect, somewhat positive, neither positive nor negative, somewhat negative (or a) very negative effect] -- on the U.S. economy?
Very positive
Somewhat positive
Neither
Somewhat negative
Very negative
No opinion
%
%
%
%
%
%
2006 May 5-7
12
20
16
30
19
2
Â鶹´«Ã½
How much contact do you, personally, have with recent immigrants -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much or none at all?
Great deal
Moderate amount
Not much
None at all
No opinion
%
%
%
%
%
2006 May 5-7
14
34
34
17
*
* Less than 0.5%
Â鶹´«Ã½
Do you know for a fact, or do you suspect, that any of those recent immigrants are in the United States illegally, or do you not suspect it?
Based on adults who have contact with recent immigrants
Know/Suspect here illegally
Do not suspect
No opinion
%
%
%
2006 May 5-7
53
38
8
Â鶹´«Ã½
Do you think that illegal immigration to the United States is out of control, or not?
Yes, is
No, is not
No opinion
%
%
%
2006 Apr 7-9
81
16
3
Â鶹´«Ã½
Do you think the United States government should -- or should not -- make illegal immigration a crime?
Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion
%
%
%
2006 Apr 7-9 ^
61
35
4
^ Asked of a half sample
Â鶹´«Ã½
Do you think the government should -- or should not -- make it a crime for U.S. citizens to provide assistance to people they know are illegal immigrants?
Yes, should
No, should not
No opinion
%
%
%
2006 Apr 7-9 ^
52
43
5
^ Asked of a half sample
Â鶹´«Ã½
Next, thinking about people who come to the U.S. from other countries on temporary work visas, what do you think the government should do about the work opportunities available for those people? Should the government -- [ROTATED: expand those work opportunities, keep them about the same or reduce those work opportunities]?
Â鶹´«Ã½'s monthly measure of U.S. attitudes about the country and its leaders showed no change in May as a mix of political and economic events cycled through the news.
