Gallup: 62% of Americans say stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority
A new poll from Gallup found that 62% of Americans think stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority for Pres. Obama's second term, while only 37% think providing a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal aliens should be a top priority. The poll questioned 1,000 Americans from Nov. 9-12 and asked them to rate 12 different issues ranging from the economy to military spending to immigration to the environment.
Since last week's elections, Members of Congress from both parties have been calling for renewed efforts in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would provide an amnesty for illegal aliens. On Wednesday, Pres. Obama told the White House press corps during his first press conference since winning re-election that he expects consideration of an amnesty bill to start "very soon" after his inauguration.
The Gallup survey also found that 29% of Americans think that passing an amnesty shouldn't be a priority at all, while only 14% think stopping illegal immigration shouldn't be a priority.
82% of Republicans think that stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority; only 25% of Republicans thinking passing an amnesty should be a top priority. Fewer than 50% of both Democrats and Independents think that passing a mass amnesty should be a top priority.
For full poll results, see Gallup.com.