Monday, March 31, 2008

 

Californians and Their Government, PPIC Statewide Survey

 

Public Policy Institute of California

 

(Excerpt from page 5)

 

“Bright spot? Positive attitude about immigrants”

 

“Despite all the economic and political negativity, Californians are basically positive on immigration. A majority of state residents (59%) believe immigrants are a benefit to California because of their hard work and job skills, compared to 34 percent who say they are a burden because they use public services.  Belief that immigrants benefit the state has increased substantially over the past decade: In 1998, only 46 percent of Californians held this view. 'Conventional wisdom would predict that attitudes about immigrants would deteriorate as economic conditions worsen, but that hasn’t happened recently,' says Baldassare.

 

“What about attitudes toward illegal immigrants? Here again, state residents take a positive view. Two-thirds (66%) think illegal immigrants should be allowed to apply for work permits that would let them stay and work in the United States, about the same percentage as one year ago (64%). Strong majorities of

Democrats (73%), independents (62%), and likely voters (60%) believe that illegal immigrants should be allowed to apply for work permits, while Republicans are divided (48% should be allowed, 50% should not). Taking it a step further, seven in 10 Californians (72%) think most illegal immigrants who have lived and worked in the United States for at least two years should be given a chance to keep their jobs and apply for legal status; only one-quarter (25%) believe these immigrants should be deported. This supportive attitude is shared by majorities across all political parties (Democrats 80%, independents 72%, Republicans 52%) and among likely voters (65%) and is unchanged since December (72%).”

 

(...)

 

For the survey and study, link to “Californians and Their Government, PPIC Statewide Survey,” The Public Policy Institute of California, March 2008.