Poll: Most oppose more Haiti immigrants

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Most Americans oppose allowing more Haitian refugees into the United States in the wake of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, a Gallup poll indicates.

In a survey released Tuesday, Gallup said the immigration issue produces a sharp political divide, with 57 percent of Democrats in favor of allowing more immigrants, while 57 percent of independents and 67 percent of Republicans are opposed.

The vast majority of respondents are also satisfied that enough is being done to help Haitian earthquake victims. Some 73 percent think the U.S. is doing enough, while only 19 percent say it should be doing more. Sixty three percent said the United States should keep troops and government workers in the Caribbean island country as long as it takes to ensure basic services are restored.

Gallup said the results from the Jan. 23-24 survey were published amid reports that immigration advocates and some members of Congress are urging the Obama administration to relax some of the restrictions on Haitian immigration.

Some 1,067 national adults were surveyed. The polled had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.