For Immediate Release June 11,
2002
New Zogby Poll
Mexicans Say Southwest U.S. Belongs to Them; Shouldn't Need Permission to Enter U.S. |
Americans
and Mexicans have widely divergent views of border issues, according to a new
poll by Zogby International. Zogby
found that a large majority of the Mexican population believes the southwest
territory of the U.S. rightfully belongs to Mexico, and that Mexicans should
have the right to enter the U.S. without first obtaining U.S. permission. By
contrast, Zogby's survey of Americans conducted within a few days of the
Mexican poll shows a large majority supports reducing immigration levels and
wants the military deployed along the border to protect the U.S. from illegal
immigration.
Zogby's poll
found that 58 percent of Mexicans agree with the statement, "the territory
of the United States' Southwest rightfully belongs to Mexico." Only 28
percent disagree, and 14 percent are unsure.
A similar
majority, 57 percent, agree with the statement, "Mexicans should have the
right to enter the U.S. without U.S. permission," while 35 percent
disagree. Seven percent are unsure.
The survey has a margin of error of 3.5
percent. The Mexico portion of the survey was conducted in Spanish between May
25 and May 26 among 801 adults chosen at random throughout Mexico. The poll was
commissioned by Americans for Immigration Control, Inc. (AIC), which advocates
increased restrictions on immigration.
"There is obviously a large and
significant gap between the attitudes of Americans and Mexicans," said
Robert Goldsborough, AIC president. "While most Americans want immigration
reduced, most Mexicans think they don't even need permission to enter our
country. The poll clearly shows there is less common ground for immigration
negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. than the leaders think. Support for a
porous border and a loose migration policy occurs only on the Mexican side, not
in the U.S."
Zogby's survey of American attitudes found wide
majorities of Americans also oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. The U.S.
portion of the survey was conducted of 1,015 likely voters in the U.S. from May
28 to May 30. It found that 65 percent disagree with the statement,
"foreigners residing illegally in the U.S. should be given amnesty."
Just 26 percent of likely voters support amnesty for illegals, while 9 percent
are unsure.
A large majority, 58 percent, agree that the
U.S. should "admit fewer immigrants each year." Only 6 percent want
"more immigrants each year," and 30 percent want to "keep
immigration at the current annual levels."
The single largest majority in the entire poll
was found among Americans supporting use of the military to guard the border. Fully
68 percent of those surveyed agree with the statement, "the U.S. should
deploy military troops on the border as a temporary measure to help the U.S.
Border Patrol curb illegal immigration." Only 28 percent disagree,
and 3 percent are unsure.
