MEMORANDUM

Interested Parties
TO:
Jefrey Pollock, Global Strategy Group
FROM:
Swing Voter Attitudes on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
RE:
May 6, 2013
DATE:

Broad Support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Proposals Popular Nationwide and Among Swing Voters
The American electorate strongly supports passage of an immigration reform bill within the framework of
the Gang of Eight proposal, according to a bipartisan nationwide survey of likely general election voters
conducted by Democratic polling firm Global Strategy Group and Republican polling firm Basswood
Research.1 Comprehensive immigration reform and its individual components are supported both by
voters overall and by swing voters (those who are not strong partisans and who self-describe as equally
likely to vote for candidates from either party). Key findings are as follows:
Voters overwhelmingly support a comprehensive reform package. A clear majority of voters (71%
support/20% oppose) are in favor of passing an immigration reform proposal described as including a
pathway to citizenship, allowing more high-skilled workers and guest workers into the country, increasing
border security, and creating employer verification requirements. Two-thirds of swing voters (67%
support/22% oppose) also support this package.
Supporting the proposal is a net positive for Congressional candidates. Four in ten voters (42%) are
more likely to vote for a candidate who supports comprehensive immigration reform, while just 12% say
they are less likely to support a candidate who supports it.
Among swing voters, a candidates support for the measure produces a similarly positive effect (38%
more likely/13% less likely).
A majority of voters support every key component in the bill, including a pathway to citizenship.
Nearly two-thirds of voters nationwide support a pathway to citizenship (64% support/32% oppose),
including a majority of swing voters (55%/38%).
A majority of voters also support allowing more high-skilled workers into the country (66%/29%) and
allowing more guest workers into the country (59%/38%).
Increasing border security (81% support/16% oppose) and employer verification (91%/8%) are almost
universally supported by the electorate.
Support for a pathway to citizenship rises even higher when paired with increased border
security. Nearly four-fifths of voters (78%) support providing a pathway to citizenship either in conjunction
with increasing border security (53%) or with no additional requirements (25%), while less than one-fifth
(17%) of voters would oppose a pathway to citizenship under any circumstances.
Support is equally strong among swing voters where 76% support a pathway to citizenship (23%
support without increased border security/53% support with increased border security/18% oppose
under any circumstances).

This survey was conducted among 1,232 likely general election voters nationwide between April 20 and April 24, 2013. The
margin of error at the 95% confidence level is+/- 2.8 percentage points.

NEW YORK WASHINGTON, D.C. HARTFORD LOS ANGELES

GLOBALSTRATEGYGROUP.COM

TOPLINE RESULTS FOR KEY IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS

As you may have heard, there is a proposal facing Congress to reform the nation's immigration laws.
This proposal would establish a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants presently in the
country as long as they pass a criminal background check, pay a fine and back taxes, learn English, and wait at least 13 years.
The plan would also allow more high-skilled immigrants into the country in technology, science and engineering fields and create
a guest worker program to address labor shortages in industries like agriculture and construction. Finally, the plan would require a
series of increased border security measures before anyone here illegally can apply for citizenship - including greater
enforcement, extended fencing along the border and a requirement that all employers verify the legal status of individuals before
hiring them.
Do you support or oppose this proposal? [IF CHOICE] Do
you feel that way strongly or just somewhat?
VOL:

Total Swing
Strongly support.............................................................................................................
34%
31%
Somewhat support.........................................................................................................
38
35
Somewhat oppose..........................................................................................................
10
8
Strongly oppose.............................................................................................................
11
14
(DK/Refused)..................................................................................................................
8
11

SUPPORT (NET)...........................................................................................................
71%
67
OPPOSE (NET)..............................................................................................................
20
22

Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate for

Congress who supports this immigration proposal or would
it make no difference in your vote? [IF MORE/LESS LIKELY] Is
that much [MORE/LESS LIKELY] or just somewhat?
VOL:

Total Swing
Much more likely............................................................................................................
17%
15%
Somewhat more likely....................................................................................................
24
23
No difference..................................................................................................................
43
45
Somewhat less likely......................................................................................................
6
8
Much less likely..............................................................................................................
6
5
(DK/Refused)..................................................................................................................
4
4

MORE LIKELY (NET).....................................................................................................

42%
38
LESS LIKELY (NET).......................................................................................................
12
13

Now I'm going to read you a list of individual immigration proposals. For each, please tell me if you support or oppose that
proposal.
SUPPORT
Strong

Some

OPPOSE
Some

Strong

(Ref.)
(Ref.)

NET
SUPPORT

Requiring that employers verify that people seeking jobs

are in the country legally before they can be hired............................................................................................................
71%
19
4
4
2
91%
Swing Voters

74%

16

90%

Increasing border security, including greater enforcement

and extended fencing along the border, to prevent future
illegal immigration as much as possible................................................................................................................................
60%
20
8
8
3
81%
Swing Voters

57%

25

82%

Allowing more legal immigrants into the country who have

advanced skills in science, technology, and engineering.................................................................................................
34%
33
12
17
5
66%
Swing Voters

27%

35

12

23

62%

Providing a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11

million undocumented immigrants presently in the country.............................................................................................
35%
29
12
20
5
64%
Swing Voters

26%

29

13

25

55%

Allowing more lower-skill legal immigrants into the country

as guest workers in industries that have labor shortages,
such as agriculture and construction......................................................................................................................................
24%
35
15
23
3
59%
Swing Voters

18%

32

17

31

50%

OPPOSE
8
8

16
15

29
35

32
38

38
48

3
Some people think that we should only support allowing undocumented immigrants to become American citizens if we first
substantially increase border security efforts and homeland security authorities could certify that our borders were secure against
future illegal immigration. Which of these comes closer to your view?
- I support providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants even if we don't increase border security.
- I would only support a pathway to citizenship if it also included substantially increasing border security.
- I oppose providing a pathway to citizenship under all circumstances.
Which of these comes closer to your view?

VOL:

Total Swing
Support pathway, even without increased security.........................................................
25%
23%
Only support pathway if also increased security.............................................................
53
53
Oppose pathway under all circumstances......................................................................
17
18
(DK/Refused)..................................................................................................................
5
5

YES (NET)......................................................................................................................
78%
76