WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans support allowing immigrants living in the country illegally to stay and be granted legal status, according to a poll released Thursday.
The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center, found that 72 percent of Americans support legal status for such immigrants.
The poll found that 56 percent of Republicans agree that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally should be able to stay as long as they meet certain criteria, as did 80 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of independents. The poll question did not specify what those requirements might be.
At the same time, 63 percent of Republicans also say immigrants — those in the U.S. legally and illegally — are a burden on the country, while 27 percent say they strengthen the country.
Among Americans overall, more say that immigrants strengthen the country (51 percent) than say they burden the country (41 percent). The Pew survey also found that about half of Americans think a lot more can be done to secure the nation’s border.
Asked to specify which they support, 42 percent of Americans said immigrants currently in the United States illegally should be allowed to apply for citizenship, while 26 percent said they should be able to apply for permanent residency, not citizenship.
The Pew survey suggests a divide between Republican voters and GOP lawmakers. Researchers found that only 34 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said the party is adequately representing their views on illegal immigration.
About half of Democrats and those whose views lean toward those of the Democratic Party say the party is doing a good job representing their view on the issue.
The Pew survey was conducted by telephone using landlines and cellphones among 2,002 adults May 12-18.
Pew research center findings
72%
Americans who say that immigrants in the U.S. illegally who meet certain requirements should have a way to stay legally
27%
Americans who say that immigrants in the U.S. illegally who meet certain requirements should not have a way to stay legally
2%
Americans who say they don’t know
80%
Democrats who say immigrants should be allowed to stay legally
76%
Independents who say immigrants should be allowed to stay legally
56%
Republicans who say immigrants should be allowed to stay legally.
