MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Majority support for legalizing US undocumented immigrants

A large majority of United States citizens support immigration reform that includes both tighter border security and some kind of guest-worker program, according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg public opinion poll.

According to the survey's interviews a majority also approves providing some type of legalized status for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the country.

The opinion poll, conducted April 8-11 among 1,357 adults nationwide, showed that US residents by a margin of two to one prefer a comprehensive solution to the immigration problem rather than the enforcement-only approach offered by the House of Representatives.

Some 84% of respondents said illegal immigration in the United States "is a problem," while 31% said they believed the situation is one of the country's "biggest problems".

Two-thirds supported the idea of immediately issuing work permits to undocumented foreigners who have lived in the United States for many years and then allowing them to apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship at a later date.

The idea of legalizing undocumented immigrants' status is supported by 71% of independent voters, 67% of registered Republicans and 59% of Democrats, according to the poll, which has a margin of error of plus/minus three points.

Last December the House of Representatives passed a restrictive bill that would make illegal immigration a felony and authorize construction of hundreds of miles of additional barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The US Senate adjourned last week for the Easter recess without voting on a much-touted compromise offering immediate legal residence to some 7 million of the undocumented immigrants. Senators reconvene April 24 but it is not yet clear which immigration proposal will be debated.

Republican leaders have already signaled that a final bill, if one finally emerges from a House-Senate conference, will not include the controversial felony proposal.