Poll Watch: Rasmussen (R) Survey on Obama Immigration Policy

Rasmussen (R) Poll on President Obama's Immigration Policy

Is the federal government making too much of an effort to identify and deport illegal immigrants in this country, not enough of an effort, or about the right amount of effort?

• Too much 16%
• Not enough 54%
• About right 25%

If adults enter the United States illegally, but don’t break any other laws, should they be considered as lawbreakers?

• Yes, they should 64%
• No, they should not 25%
• Not sure 11%

If young people are brought here illegally by their parents, should they be considered as lawbreakers?

• Yes, they should 28%
• No, they should not 60%
• Not sure 12%

Suppose someone was brought to the country illegally when they were under 16. If they have no criminal record, have graduated from high school or have served in the military, should they be allowed to apply for work permits or should they be deported?

• Should be allowed to apply for work permits 71%
• Should be deported 20%
• Not sure 10%

National survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted June 17-18, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

While this is the thrust of the new immigration policy announced by the president last Friday, most Republicans (58%) support work permits for young illegal immigrants who meet these standards, along with 87% of Democrats and 68% of voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of white voters say the government hasn’t done enough to identify and deport illegal immigrants, a view shared by only 29% of blacks and 34% of voters of other races.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans and 56% of unaffiliated voters believe the federal government has not been aggressive enough in deporting illegal immigrants. Just 27% of Democrats agree. GOP voters and unaffiliateds are also far more likely than Democrats to think adult illegal immigrants should be considered lawbreakers even if they have broken no other laws.

But most unaffiliated voters (54%) and 81% of Democrats feel that young people brought here illegally by their parents should not be considered lawbreakers. Republicans agree but by a much narrower 46% to 38% margin.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of voters say they have followed recent news reports about the president’s new immigration policy, including 39% who have been following very closely.