WSJ: Economic Downturn Could Bolster US Immigration Overhaul, New Polling Finds

Posted 06/03/09 at 10:15am

Wall Street Journal New public opinion research by Lake Research Partners showed up in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, ripping to shreds the conventional wisdom that immigration reform can't happen in a down economy:

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Tough economic times may be a boon for supporters of a broad overhaul of the nation's immigration policies, according to pollsters who are testing the waters ahead of an upcoming White House summit on immigration.

"If anything, the economic climate has actually improved the environment for immigration reform, at least as far as the public is concerned," said Celinda Lake, who heads Lake Research Partners.

"A salient issue is that reform would make immigrants all taxpayers," Lake said during a telephone briefing.

Lake's research team, which released its findings yesterday, conducted a series of six focus groups across the country in advance of the Presiden't June meeting on immigration reform. They found that the bad economy has put voters in a problem-solving state of mind.

The participants, which included several key swing demographic groups from Kansas City to Phoenix, strongly favored the specifics of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal in which undocumented immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, learn English, pass a background check, and apply for citizenship. Participants broadly rejected proposals calling for mass-deportation or enforcement-only tactics in favor of pragmatic proposals that move America forward.

Check out the America's Voice polling roundup to learn more.

By Jackie Mahendra
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Our economy is not doing great. The Rust Belt is defined as an area comprising Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan which was once a manufacturing center producing vast amounts of goods of materials. However, since the manufacturing jobs left, it has become dilapidated, and hence the title of the Rust Belt. This area has also been hard hit by the housing crisis. The Federal money disbursements have gone to huge banks, and bypassed the area where a lot of people could use some payday loans. Charity organizations are very active in these areas, as jobs continue to flee. There are so few jobs; there aren’t even jobs driving truck for the U.S. Postal Service. This is where debt relief is needed, not at Bank of America, but in the Rust Belt.

06-05-09 By The Rust Belt

his area has also been hard hit by the housing crisis. The Federal money disbursements have gone to huge banks, and bypassed the area where a lot of people could use some payday loans

07-03-09 By Essay Writing Service

learn English, pass a background check, and apply for citizenship. Participants broadly rejected proposals calling for mass-deportation or enforcement-only tactics in favor of pragmatic proposals that move America forward.