Dear Editor
An opinion poll conducted by NBC-Wall Street Journal shows significant support for Obama’s executive order to grant reprieve to illegal immigrants in the US. President Obama announced on November 20 a reprieve from deportation for illegal immigrants who have not run afoul of the law and who have been living in the US prior to December 2010. He said they could come out of the shadows, pay a fee and taxes, and get a work permit. This directive, say officials, will shield up to five million people from deportation and allow many to work legally, but it will not offer a path to citizenship, unlike previous immigration reforms from Presidents Clinton, Bush Sr and Reagan. The illegal beneficiaries must pass background checks. Once eligible, they will receive Social Security cards. But they will not be eligible for benefits under Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The President’s Executive Order will benefit tens of thousands of nationals from Guyana and the Caribbean and they are solidly supporting the President’s initiative. But Republicans are denouncing the President’s initiative, saying it will result in the US being overrun with illegal immigrants. They threaten court action to stop it.
But poll findings may force them to take a less confrontational position on the issue as a significant percentage of Republicans back the President’s action. The NBC poll showed that some 50% of the country feels illegals should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship; a further 13% said they should stay but not be eligible for citizenship; 32% said they should be deported. Altogether 75% of Democrats support policy to allow illegals to stay in US while 60% of Independents, and 49% of Republicans are supportive of the policy. Only 46% of Republicans feel illegals should be deported. With regard to a breakdown by ethnicity, 78% Hispanics, 77% Blacks, and 59% Whites support a policy that allows illegals to remain in the US. The poll finds that Democrats are much more likely to support a path to citizenship, along with Hispanics, Blacks and young adults aged 18 to 29. The poll finds that 38% approve of Obama’s Executive Order while 48% disapprove with 14% having no opinion on the issue.
A recent USA Today poll indicated that 46% preferred the Republican Congress to take action on reform rather than for presidential unilateral action, while 42% approved of the President taking unilateral action now. A Washington Post September 2014 poll showed 52% favouring presidential action in the absence of any congressional action.
Among Guyanese, Caribbean, Latinos, Asians and other immigrants I spoke with, everyone supports the temporary reprieve the President has announced for illegal immigrants.
Only some native born Whites in New York told me they were opposed to the President’s action saying it was the Congress’s power to act on immigration reform.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
