More than three-quarters of Americans favor allowing illegal immigrants who have spent many years in the United States to apply for citizenship

[almaty 19]

CNN) -- More than three-quarters of Americans favor allowing illegal immigrants who have spent many years in the United States to apply for citizenship, according to a poll conducted for CNN by Opinion Research Corp.

In the poll, released Tuesday, 77 percent of those responding favored allowing illegal immigrants who have been in United States for more than five years to stay and apply for citizenship if they have a job, and pay a fine and back taxes. Twenty percent said they opposed such a measure.

A majority opposed a proposal to allow iIlegal immigrants who have been in the United States for two to five years to stay on a temporary basis, without a chance to apply for U.S. citizenship. Fifty-four percent opposed that measure, and 40 percent favored it.

A proposal to deport illegal immigrants in the United States for less than two years was favored by 64 percent and opposed by 31 percent.

For the poll, 1,012 adult Americans were interviewed by telephone between Friday and Sunday; it has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A proposal being considered by the Senate would treat illegal immigrants differently based on the amount of time they have lived in the United States.

Earlier this month, senators left for a two-week recess after failing to agree on legislation to increase border security, create a guest-worker program and develop a legalization process.

Proponents of the latter called the system "earned citizenship," while opponents decried it as "amnesty."

With lawmakers returning to work Monday, President Bush reiterated his support for immigration legislation that would include a temporary guest-worker program. (Full story)

Bush called the proposal that bogged down in the Senate an "important compromise" and blamed the failure to pass it on "needless politics." That proposal was based on legislation proposed by Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat.

Minority Leader Harry Reid said Monday, "The Senate can move forward on immigration if President Bush and the majority leader will stand up to those Republicans who are filibustering."

A Republican leadership aide said last week that Majority Leader Bill Frist will bring immigration legislation back to the Senate floor by Memorial Day. (Full story)

The issue presents a delicate balancing act for Bush. His guest-worker program has support in the business community, and he has courted Latino support. But he also must deal with an outspoken segment of his conservative base demanding tougher restrictions on illegal immigration.

Republicans have been divided over the worker program and the legalization process.

Bush said Monday that the best way to enforce border security "besides making sure it's modern and we've got manpower and equipment down there ... is to come up with a rational plan that recognizes people coming here to work, and lets them do so on a temporary basis."

The poll found opinions divided on a worker program that would allow people from other countries to stay in the United States for several months but require them to leave when that time was up, without a chance to apply for citizenship. That was favored by 47 percent and opposed by 45 percent.

Any immigration legislation the Senate passes would have to be reconciled with a plan passed by the House in December. The House version includes neither a guest-worker program nor a legalization process.

The House bill, which helped spark weeks of protests nationwide by supporters of illegal immigrants, included provisions to build 700 miles of fence along the border with Mexico and to make entering the country illegally a felony.

In the poll, Americans were split evenly over the fence proposal, with 47 percent favoring the idea and the same percentage opposing it.

A majority -- 56 percent -- opposed making illegal immigration a felony, while 39 percent favored it.

After Congress started its recess, the top Republicans in both the House and Senate indicated they would not support the felony provision. (Full story)

In the poll, 68 percent of those responding said they favored increasing penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants, while 27 percent were opposed

[Sister Fracas 5]

So the longer you break the law....the more it becomes ok???

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So the longer you break the law....the more it becomes ok???

Only in America...

[Traviesa 0]

Why is there yet another thread about this???

[Mand 1]

For the poll, 1,012 adult Americans were interviewed by telephone between Friday and Sunday; it has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

And what's the population of America?

[Fuzzness 2]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

[Traviesa 0]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

Well since we've all said what we had to say 10 times over already, there's really no need to comment further, is there?

[mercuryroad 0]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

Agreed.....time to stop the VJ hatred for awhile.

[Sister Fracas 5]

*sigh* why do people continue to post in threads they object to....???

[Sinergy 3]

Everyone has different opinions on this issue, and every thread that is posted is either an opinion by someone, OR a news article. If someone wants to post something about ANYTHNG, who are we to B###h about it? If you dont want to comment on the post, then dont, its simple.

The problem in the posts though, is opinions turn into personal fighting. A debate is to voice your opinion, not fight until someone becomes personally injured by someone elses wording.

JMO

Edited April 25, 2006 by Ionescu

[almaty 19]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

no comment needed..i just found it interesting that over 3/4 of american citizens in the poll said let them stay..i see this as a level to pass the bills currnetly in congress..i thought it was about 30% and was surprised..no poos flings indeed sister melissa or fuzzy..just a poll

also, this is not to inspire a flame war brother merc or sister fraces..the hatered is always within the person not the topic...

[Sinergy 3]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

no comment needed..i just found it interesting that over 3/4 of american citizens in the poll said let them stay..i see this as a level to pass the bills currnetly in congress..i thought it was about 30% and was surprised..no poos flings indeed sister melissa or fuzzy..just a poll

also, this is not to inspire a flame war brother merc or sister fraces..the hatered is always within the person not the topic...

I agree with you almaty, but it almost feels like what you said needs to be said at the start or people get all bent out of shape over seeing another topic of "immigration". But im sure someone will begin the daily war at some point today on this.

[Sister Fracas 5]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

no comment needed..i just found it interesting that over 3/4 of american citizens in the poll said let them stay..i see this as a level to pass the bills currnetly in congress..i thought it was about 30% and was surprised..no poos flings indeed sister melissa or fuzzy..just a poll

also, this is not to inspire a flame war brother merc or sister fraces..the hatered is always within the person not the topic...

No, I didn't think it WAS to start anything... It's an article and the numbers are surprising to me.

But hey, illegals (sorry, the undocumented) and the Pres will get what they want and yay...let's all sing kumbaya! Over and out...

I agree with you almaty, but it almost feels like what you said needs to be said at the start or people get all bent out of shape over seeing another topic of "immigration". But im sure someone will begin the daily war at some point today on this.

Had there been a dozen or so posts about another "hot topic" though and there wouldn't be justification needed.

[Sinergy 3]

my only comment this time is that i will no longer comment.

sorry brother dean

no comment needed..i just found it interesting that over 3/4 of american citizens in the poll said let them stay..i see this as a level to pass the bills currnetly in congress..i thought it was about 30% and was surprised..no poos flings indeed sister melissa or fuzzy..just a poll

also, this is not to inspire a flame war brother merc or sister fraces..the hatered is always within the person not the topic...

No, I didn't think it WAS to start anything... It's an article and the numbers are surprising to me.

But hey, illegals (sorry, the undocumented) and the Pres will get what they want and yay...let's all sing kumbaya! Over and out...

I agree with you almaty, but it almost feels like what you said needs to be said at the start or people get all bent out of shape over seeing another topic of "immigration". But im sure someone will begin the daily war at some point today on this.

Had there been a dozen or so posts about another "hot topic" though and there wouldn't be justification needed.

But there isnt, people are concidering this to be the HOT topic, all im saying is, someone is going to post about this topic, no matter what anyone thinks or cares, we dont have to always FIGHT in the thread.

[Sister Fracas 5]

But there isnt, people are concidering this to be the HOT topic, all im saying is, someone is going to post about this topic, no matter what anyone thinks or cares, we dont have to always FIGHT in the thread.

Actually, I've seen little of what I'd call fighting...heated, passionate debate, yes. But had there been any real fighting, you can be sure these threads would have been closed down.