Nearly 51% of American Voters Support Arizona Immigration Law, Survey Says
Although condemned by the White House, Arizona’s controversial new immigration law has popular support among American voters.
The Arizona statute, which requires law enforcement officials to ask someone’s legal status if there is “reasonable suspicion” to believe the person is in the U.S. illegally, was approved of by 31 to 51 percent of the survey’s respondents, and 35 to 48 percent said that they want a similar immigration law enacted in their state, according to a nonpartisan Quinnipiac University Poll, reports USA Today.
“The Arizona immigration law has emerged as a major divide in the country, but the numbers are on the side of those supporting it,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The survey also found that 45 percent of respondents thought the Arizona law will reduce illegal immigration, despite beliefs among 40 to 45 percent that it will lead to discrimination against Hispanics. Older voters demonstrated greater support for Arizona-style immigration laws, and three-quarters of all voters objected to plans to boycott Arizona over the issue.
