ACCORDING to the latest ABC News/Washington Postpoll (the survey was conducted by landline and cellphone from January 30-February 3, 2013, among a random national sample of 1,038 adults), there was a boost in public approval for President Barack Obama’s handling of immigration, brought about by “majority support for a path to citizenship” for the undocumented and “a broad endorsement of stricter border control,” reports ABC OTUS News.
“While the president lacks majority approval on the issue overall, slightly more Americans now approve than disapprove of his approach, by 49 vs. 43 percent. Obama was underwater on the issue – just 38 percent approved, while 52 percent disapproved – as recently as last July.”
“In terms of specific policies, an overwhelming 83 percent support stricter border control, including 64 percent who are “strongly” supportive; only 15 percent are opposed. Fewer, 55 percent, also favor a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, with 41 percent opposed,” ABC OTUS News further said.
67 percent of Hispanics, 71 percent of nonwhites and 38 percent of whites approve Obama’s handling of immigration overall.
A path to citizenship for the undocumented is supported by 82 percent of Hispanics, 71 percent of nonwhites and 47 percent of whites; also by nearly 7 in 10 Democrats, a little over half of independents, 42 percent of Republicans and around 37 percent of those who consider themselves as politically conservative.
Pres. Obama’s approval rating on immigration increased by 11 percentage points compared to 7 months ago; disapproval decreased by 9 points.
In terms of policy divisions, despite a popular vote from “broad majorities across all groups and in all regions,” there is considerable divisiveness when it comes to the issue of having a path to citizenship, brought about by “political preferences.”
“Support for stricter border control includes three-quarters of Democrats and liberals, more than eight in 10 moderates, conservatives and political independents, and a whopping 92 percent of Republicans. Securing the borders is also supported by 87 percent of whites, three-quarters of nonwhites, and bottoms out at a still-high 69 percent among Hispanics.”
“As noted, views on a path to citizenship are more linked to political preferences. Beyond party affiliation, 73 percent of liberals favor a path to citizenship; that declines to 53 percent of moderates, half of ‘somewhat’ conservatives and fewer than four in 10 strong conservatives.”
“Notably, support for a path to citizenship reaches majorities across regions, 53 to 59 percent,” ABC OTUS Newsfurther reports.
Meanwhile, Christian Science Monitor (CSM) reported that House Republicans are showing signs of flexibility despite some reservations about immigration reform.
In his speech at the American Enterprise Institute on Tuesday, House majority leader and foremost conservative Eric Cantor “offered support for the broad contours of the DREAM Act, long-stalled legislation that would allow the children of undocumented immigrants a special path to legal status in the US – and eventually citizenship,” saidCSM (In 2010, Cantor voted against the DREAM Act).
“One of the great founding principles of our country was that children would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. It is time to provide an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought to this country as children and who know no other home,” Cantor said.
However, conservative lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee aired their concerns about the federal government’s “poor record on immigration enforcement.”
They spoke about the 1986 reform law (which gave legal status to a sizable group of undocumented immigrants — more than what lawmakers expected) and how it proved to be ineffective — allowing a “renewed inflow of undocumented individuals, now estimated at 11 million.”
Nevertheless, the Republicans balanced their views “with some helpful notes,” giving long-time immigration reform advocates a bit of hope.
Still, there are major issues that need to be resolved, such as whether a path to citizenship for undocumented individuals is justified.
“Overall, the tone of the Tuesday’s House hearing was one of inquiry, with several members forgoing the usual grandstanding to ask the panelists how to fix America’s immigration system,” said CSM.
While negotiations between Democrats and Republicans are still ongoing, and public approval of a comprehensive immigration reform continues to rise, the discussion on immigration reform requires more than just a myopic/idealistic view.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte made a good point, when he said that anyone in Congress planning to rehaul the current system “needs to take the time to learn from the past, so that our efforts to reform our immigration laws do not repeat the same mistakes.”
“This is not about being in a hurry. This is about trying to get it right on behalf of the American people and those who are suffering under an immigration system that doesn’t work very well for anybody,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to ABC.
Even Senators perceive that it might take 10 years before the undocumented can become legal permanent residents, albeit also emphasizing that nothing has been agreed to yet and that the timeline could still change.
What should be a more pressing concern for the Obama administration is to find ways of alleviating the current long wait, being experienced by those who have filed family- and employment-based petitions legally. The system itself needs a lot of work.
To be fair to all immigrants, improvements on existing immigration processes/procedures should be addressed first, before new policies are formulated.
(AJPress)