A new poll reveals that there is overwhelming support for immigration reform in the United States.
While the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is still stalling over an immigration reform bill which passed Senate in June, hesitant to pass any bill which would offer all illegal immigrants living in the States an eventual path to citizenship, the measure is supported by the majority of American citizens.
According to a report carried out by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, 63 per cent of Americans are in favour of creating such a pathway, while 14 per cent back a plan allowing undocumented immigrants to become permanent legal residents, but not citizens.
Just 18 per cent would support a programme that would see all illegal immigrants identified and then deported.
Perhaps surprisingly, the survey shows that there is little variation along party lines among those who back citizenship: 60 percent of Republicans, 73 per cent of Democrats and 57 per cent of independents are in favour of such a plan.
Speaking at a fundraising dinner in Seattle over the weekend, US President Barack Obama accused Congress of acting in its own interests rather than for the US people when it comes to immigration reform.
“The biggest barrier and impediment [to immigration reform] we have right now is the Congress, and in particular the House of Representatives, that is not focused on getting the job done for the American people and is a lot more focused on trying to position themselves for the next election,” the President said.
However, if the results from the new poll are to be believed, the House’s decision to delay any vote on reform could actually have a hugely detrimental effect on the Republican party’s chances of success at the next Presidential Election, scheduled for 2016.
Article published 26th November 2013