Remarkably, the number of people calling for LEGAL immigration to be decreased is at a historical low. Just last year and for most of the last decades, roughly a majority of the public called for decreasing immigration below its present levels.

Today, just 34% call for decreasing legal immigration, with 39% calling for INCREASED levels of legal immigration and 22% calling for maintaining present levels of immigration. Obviously, some of the message has gotten through that the best way to deal with illegal immigration is to create greater opportunities for legal status for immigrants.

And as for illlegal immigration, only 36% of Americans in the poll believe immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens.

But it’s on solving the problem that you see the rightwing view being rejected:
61% of Americans favor giving illegal immigrants legal status and keep their present jobs
and 66% reject building the proposed 700-mile fence at the border

So much for backlash. The American people are more pragmatic and would rather deal with immigrants as human beings needing to be brought fully into the American community.

Full Story: Nathan Newman.

(more info on immigration: Dispelling the Myths About Immigration).