Immigrant community has no split =By VICKI ADAME / Vida en el Valle

Immigrant community has no split

By VICKI ADAME / Vida en el Valle
(Published Wednesday, April 5th, 2006 11:01AM)

Contrary to a widely held belief by lawmakers legal immigrants do not harbor animosity toward their undocumented counterparts.

That was one of the major findings of a poll released by New America Media on March 28.

Researchers wanted to find out the concerns of legal immigrants over the current immigration debate. They asked 800 legal immigrants from more than 40 countries their views on the debate. It was conducted in nine languages including Spanish, English and Haitian Creole.

According to the U.S. Census, 26 million legal immigrants live in the United States.

"As a group they have a positive view about undocumented immigrants," said Sergio Bendixen of Bendixen & Associates.

Lawmakers often argue that giving any form of preferential treatment to undocumented immigrants is a slap in the face to legal immigrants who've played by the rules.

"Our poll says the opposite. Legal immigrants have no animosity toward undocumented immigrants," Bendixen said.

According to the findings, 81 percent said undocumented workers take jobs that legal residents and citizens do not want to do.

Dan Restrepo, senior policy advisor at the Center for American Progress, said the poll came at a very vital moment in the immigration debate.

"It's important to reach out and see what the most recent immigrant group thinks about this issue," Restrepo said.

Added Bendixen, "Who better to give us an opinion on immigration policy than legal immigrants who have gone through this process. These results speak for the 26 million legal immigrants who live in the U.S."

The majority, 67 percent, said they believe anti-immigrant feelings are growing and are being fueled by racism.

"A lot of them feel that many Americans feel uncomfortable having immigrants here," Bendixen said.

He said comments made by politicians such as Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado that undocumented immigrants are scourge on society also hurts all people who look different or speak with an accent.

What is currently happening in the country is comparable to what occurred in California during the 1990s when Prop. 187 passed, Bendixen said.

Other major findings:

54 percent said the debate about immigration policy has been unfair and based on information.

74 percent opposed denying U.S. citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States.

66 percent opposed construction of a wall along the U.S. and México border — 73 percent opposed arresting undocumented immigrants and charging them with a felony.

67 percent opposed stiff penalties on employers who hire undocumented immigrants and prosecuting religious and advocacy groups that help those immigrants.

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