The overwhelming majority of Republican voters are in support of a legal pathway to citizenship for law-abiding illegal immigrants, according to a Monmouth University poll released Sunday.
Democrats shut down the government in January in order to secure legal protections for DREAMers and members of their extended families, also known as chain migration. Although the party’s posturing ultimately failed, Democrats and members of the media ardently tried to push the narrative that the White House, congressional Republicans and GOP voters support punishing children for the crimes of their parents.
The Monmouth University poll released Sunday turns that narrative on its head, showing the vast majority of Republican voters want to see law-abiding, hard working DREAMers obtain legal status and protections enjoyed by American citizens.
Roughly 63 percent of Republicans believe it is of the upmost importance for Congress to come to an agreement on the status of the 620,000-800,000 illegal immigrants under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as DREAMers. Some 61 percent of Republicans support granting DREAMers with no criminal record automatic citizenship. Additionally, 63 percent of Republican voters support providing a legal pathway for illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for some time.
Only 30 percent of voters support taking steps to deport DREAMers and forcing them to come back to the U.S. through a re-entry process.
The White House released a proposal in mid January that provides 1.8 million young illegal immigrants legal pathways to citizenship in exchange for funding for the construction of a border wall along 700 miles of the souther U.S.-Mexico border. The public is torn on the administration’s proposal, with 31 percent of voters supporting it, 33 percent opposing it and 36 percent remaining undecided.
GOP Sen. John McCain is introducing a DACA fix bill that will likely infuriate Republicans and the White House.
McCain, along with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, will announce a bill Monday that provides a pathway to citizenship for roughly 800,000 illegal immigrants, no funding for the president’s border wall (or other border technology) and requires a comprehensive study to determine what border security measures are needed.
The Monmouth poll was conducted by telephone from Jan. 28-30 with 806 adults in the U.S. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
Follow Robert Donachie on Twitter and Facebook
Send tips to robert@
Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.