Saturday, May 13, 2006
Wide Support for National Guard Border Plan
A Time magazine poll taken last month shows that Americans overwhelmingly favor deploying the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexican border - an idea that is expected to be the centerpiece of President Bush speech to the nation on immigration reform Monday night.
62 percent of those surveyed told Time that they would back a plan to militarize the border. Just 35 percent opposed.
56 percent told Time that they would favor building a wall across the entire U.S.-Mexican border - not the just 700 miles of fencing proposed in a plan passed by the House in December. Only 40 percent opposed.
Asked if President Bush should take "whatever steps [are] necessary to guard the border," 71 percent of Republicans said yes, along with 54 percent of Democrats.
It's not clear, however, whether the Bush speech will touch on building a border fence, although the Real ID Act - which the White House supported - funded the completion of a border fence in California.
A full 75 percent told Time that illegals should be denied government supplied health care and food stamps, with only 21 percent saying they should get those benefits. More than two thirds, 69 percent, say illegals shouldn't be allowed to get U.S. drivers licenses.
58 percent of Republicans favored "deporting all illegal immigrants," Time said, with 45 percent of Democrats agreeing.
Support for tough border enforcement may be even higher than the Time poll indicated, since their survey sample was comprised of 32 percent Democrats, 25 percent Independents and just 28 percent Republicans.
A Time magazine poll taken last month shows that Americans overwhelmingly favor deploying the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexican border - an idea that is expected to be the centerpiece of President Bush speech to the nation on immigration reform Monday night.
62 percent of those surveyed told Time that they would back a plan to militarize the border. Just 35 percent opposed.
56 percent told Time that they would favor building a wall across the entire U.S.-Mexican border - not the just 700 miles of fencing proposed in a plan passed by the House in December. Only 40 percent opposed.
Asked if President Bush should take "whatever steps [are] necessary to guard the border," 71 percent of Republicans said yes, along with 54 percent of Democrats.
It's not clear, however, whether the Bush speech will touch on building a border fence, although the Real ID Act - which the White House supported - funded the completion of a border fence in California.
A full 75 percent told Time that illegals should be denied government supplied health care and food stamps, with only 21 percent saying they should get those benefits. More than two thirds, 69 percent, say illegals shouldn't be allowed to get U.S. drivers licenses.
58 percent of Republicans favored "deporting all illegal immigrants," Time said, with 45 percent of Democrats agreeing.
Support for tough border enforcement may be even higher than the Time poll indicated, since their survey sample was comprised of 32 percent Democrats, 25 percent Independents and just 28 percent Republicans.
