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Monday, April 10, 2006
Immigration concerns reflected in new poll
WASHINGTON -- People are now about as likely to mention immigration as the economy when they are asked to name the most important problem facing the United States, though both rank behind wars in Iraq and elsewhere, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
Immigration's rise in the latest survey about the nation's top problems suggests the public is keeping close watch on the immigration debate in Congress and reaction around the country.
Efforts in the Senate to pass sweeping immigration legislation faltered Friday, leaving in doubt the prospects for passage of a measure that offered the hope of citizenship to millions of men, women and children living in the United States illegally.
The rise in public concern about immigration over the past three months has been substantial.
When people were asked last week to name the top national problem that came to mind, 13 percent said immigration -- four times the number who said that in January. Roughly the same number, 14 percent of those polled, named the economy, according to the poll of 500 adults conducted April 3-5. The survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
As immigration concerns have grown, economic worries have dipped. The 14 percent who now say the economy and related issues are their top concern compares with 24 percent in October.
While consumers remain edgy and the housing market is cooler, the economy is believed to be growing at a brisk rate so far this year.
About one in five, 19 percent, said they view war as the nation's top problem.
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