Poll Shows Elites Differ from
People on Immigration

he gap between the opinions of the American people and their leaders on immigration is "enormous" and growing, according to an analysis of survey data collected by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.

The poll found that 60 percent of the American public regards the current high levels of immigration to be a "critical threat to the vital interests" of the country, but only 14 percent of the nation's leadership agrees.

The data was analyzed by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., in its report, "Elite vs. Public Opinion: An Examination of Divergent Views on Immigration."

The survey was based on interviews with 2,800 "ordinary Americans" and a cross-section of 400 "opinion leaders," including members of Congress, the Bush administration, business executives, union leaders, journalists, academics, and leaders of major special interest groups.

CIS found that the large 46-point gap between the people and the elite is wider than the 37-point difference found in a similar survey in 1998.

"The poll results indicate that there is no other foreign policy related issue on which the American people and their leaders disagreed more profoundly than immigration.," said the report. "Even on such divisive issues as globalization or strengthening the United Nations, the public and the elite are much closer together than they are on immigration."

On the issue of illegal immigration, the divide was even slightly larger. The survey found that 70 percent of the American people said reducing illegal immigration should be a "very important" foreign policy goal. But U.S. elites care little for enforcing their own laws. Only 22 percent of the elites interviewed agreed, creating a gap of 48 points.

The public ranks illegal immigration sixth out of 69 foreign policy problems they are most concerned about, while elites ranked illegal immigration at 26th.

Steve Camarota, co-author of the report, said the divergent views explain recent political events.

"It explains why broad interest group support for an illegal alien amnesty, including the business community and labor unions, has not translated into the passage of an amnesty," he said.

Republicans and Democrats are currently engaged in a bidding war to see which party can promise to deliver a bigger amnesty for illegals. Politicians hope that using government to give favors will translate into political support among immigrants at the ballot box. Both President George Bush and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-MO, have announced they will push for amnesty programs.

The poll showed that only 27 percent of the U.S. public believes the president's handling of immigration issues is good or excellent.

Most Americans surveyed, 55 percent, said immigration should be reduced. Just 27 percent wanted immigration levels kept the same. In stark contrast, only 18 percent of surveyed elites want immigration levels reduced, while fully 60 percent want the current high levels to remain the same.

Co-author Roy Beck said that continued "deep public dissatisfaction with current immigration policy" is an issue "just waiting for a candidate to champion."