Country split on immigration reform focus

PRINCETON, N.J., July 6 (UPI) -- Americans are closely divided over the focus of comprehensive immigration reform, results of a Gallup-USA Today poll released Tuesday indicate.

Results indicate Americans are divided, 50 percent to 45 percent, on whether the focus should be stopping the flow of illegal immigrants coming into the United States or developing a plan to address illegal immigrants already in the states.

Gallup said results of the latest poll were similar to a June 2006 poll, taken a month after President George W. Bush called on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

The new poll also indicated, by a 62 percent-to-32 percent margin, Americans are more likely to think illegal immigrants burden public coffers because of the social services they receive instead of as people who become productive citizens and contribute a fair share of taxes.

Republicans and Democrats differ significantly about which aspect of immigration reform should be the priority, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said. More than two-thirds of Republicans said halting the flow of illegal immigrants should be the government's main focus, while 55 percent of Democrats said they want the focus to be dealing with illegal immigrants already in the country.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,014 adults conducted June 11-13. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.