A new Los Angeles Times/USC poll has found a shift in California voter sentiment away from proposals to take away all
social services from illegal immigrants, including access to schools and emergency medical
treatment, from illegal residents.
Large majorities in the poll
supported two alternative proposals: one that would couple stronger
enforcement at the border with a temporary worker program, and one that
would combine stronger border enforcement with a path to eventual
citizenship for illegal residents who perform community service, pay
back taxes and learn English.
The support for both a
guest-worker program and a citizenship option were notable partly
because they come at a time when California voters remain deeply
pessimistic about the state’s economy.
The Los Angeles Times/USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
poll surveyed 1,515 registered voters from March 23 to 30. It was
conducted by a bipartisan team of polling companies based in the
Washington, D.C., area: Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a Democratic firm, and American Viewpoint, a Republican firm. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
The poll asked whether voters supported "implement stronger
enforcement at the border and
prohibit those here illegally from
benefiting from any taxpayer-funded social services, including
emergency room treatment and
public education for children
here illegally." In response, 31% said they strongly support and 32% said they strongly oppose.
In 1994, California voters approved Proposition 187, which cut off many of those benefits to illegal immigrants. It was later ruled unconstitutional.
Explore all the poll questions here. Check out Times reporter Evan Halper’s entire story here.
— Los Angeles Times
Photo: Isaac Chang of the Minuteman Project, left, argues with a
counter-protester at a rally in San Francisco by the group to demand
the resignation of the mayor. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press