Evangelical VotersNational Poll of evangelical voters' biblical views on immigration policy

Evangelical voters' biblical views and moral priorities on immigration

policy

National poll of evangelical voters' biblical views and

moral priorities on immigration policy

February 2014

Of Special Interest

Question 7 — Moral responsibility for protecting settled illegal immigrants so they can care for their families?

Question 8 — Moral responsibility for protecting unemployed Americans from having to compete with extra foreign workers?

Question 10 — What does "the stranger" scripture mean for U.S. policy?

Question 11 — Do restrictive immigration laws violate or follow biblical teaching?

Question 13 — More reason to give legal status to illegal immigrants because so many in churches?

Question 18 — Deport illegal immigrants?

Question 19 — Take away jobs and encourage to go home?

METHODOLOGY:

The national survey of 1,000 likely Evangelical Christian voters was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research on February 11-17, 2014. Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from Rasmussen Reports, LLC. The margin of sampling error was +/- 3.0% percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Half of the respondents were Republicans, 25% were Democrats and 25% were Independents. The age distribution was 32% for 18-39, 46% for 40-64 and 22% for 65+. Whites were 82%, Blacks were 8% and Hispanics, Asians and others were 10%. Men were 46% and women were 54%.

The survey was sponsored by the NumbersUSA Education & Research Foundation. It is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded to focus on the bi-partisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform's recommendations to reduce immigration numbers for the protection of the country's most vulnerable members.

The survey was conducted using an established automated polling methodology: 90% of the sample calls were placed to randomly-selected phone numbers through a process that insures appropriate geographic representation; 10% of the sample was conducted via online surveys of those individuals who use a cell-phone as their primary telephone. After the calls and on-line surveys are completed, the raw data is processed through a weighting program to insure that the sample reflects the overall population in terms of age, race, gender, political party, and other factors. The processing step is required because different segments of the population answer the phone in different ways. For example, women answer the phone more than men, older people are home more and answer more than younger people, and rural residents typically answer the phone more frequently than urban residents. The population targets were based upon census bureau data, a series of screening questions to determine likely voters, and other factors. Pulse Opinion Research determines its partisan weighting targets through a dynamic weighting system that takes into account voting history, national trends, and recent polling.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Peter Robbio at (703) 683-5004 ext. 116 [email protected]

During NRB convention, contact Jim Robb: 202-285-4390 (cell phone on floor)[email protected]


policy

Not SurePoorFair

GoodExcellent

3%43%33%16%5%

1. The government reports that 20 million Americans who want a full-time job cannot find one. Over the

next two years, how would you rate their prospects of getting a

job?

This national survey of 1,000 likely Evangelical voters was conducted on February 11-17, 2014 by Pulse Opinion Research. The margin of sampling error +/- 3.0% percentage points

with a 95% level of confidence. Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from

Rasmussen Reports, LLC.


policy

We face labor shortages that require increases in less-edu-

cated immigrants.

There are plenty of less-educated Americans to do the jobs.

Not sure

8%

78%

14%

2. Which do you agree with more about construction and service

occupations?




Evangelical voters' biblical views and moral priorities on immigration policy

Bring in a new immigrant worker to keep the costs down

Businesses raise the pay until they attract an unemployed American,

even if it causes prices to rise

Not sure

11%

68%

21%

3. When employers say they have trouble finding an American to

take a job, which is better for the country?





policy

Businesses should be required to try harder to recruit and train among these groups with the highest un-employment, if businesses have

trouble finding workers.

73%14%13%

4. Some employers say it is diffi-cult to hire workers from among groups with the highest unem-

ployment and poverty rates (which includes Black and Hispanic Amer-

icans, younger Americans of all ethnicities, and disabled Ameri-

cans). What should businesses do?





policy

Two millionOne million

Half a million100,000

ZeroNot sure

8%14%15%20%29%14%

5. Currently, the government al-lows one million legal immigrants each year. How many legal im-

migrants should the government allow each year?

One or Two million (keep current level or increase it)

Half a Million or Less (cut by at least half)

Zero or 100,000 (cut by at least 90%)

22%

64%

49%

GROUPINGS


with a 95% level of confidence. Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public

opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from Rasmussen Reports, LLC.


policy

Work permits to nearly all who pay a fine, pass an English test and undergo a background check

Not sure

34%35%25%6%

6. Now, let's think about ILLEGAL immigration. When it comes to the

estimated 12 million foreign citi-zens who are in this country ille-gally, are you generally sympa-thetic to eventually offering life-

time work permits?

Nearly All

Only Some or Almost None

34%

60%

GROUPINGS





A lotSome

Very littleNone

Not Sure

12%24%28%29%8%

7. How much moral responsibility do you feel any nation's govern-

ment has to help protect the ability of settled illegal immigrants to

hold a job and support their fami-lies without fear of deportation?

A lot or Some

None or Very Little

36%

57%

GROUPINGS





policy

A lot

Very little

Not Sure

49%25%13%6%8%

8. How much moral responsibility do you feel any nation's govern-ment has to adopt immigration

policies to protect its own unem-ployed or low-wage workers from having to compete with foreign

workers for jobs?

A lot or Some

None or Very Little

74%

19%

GROUPINGS





policy

They should be given work permits in the first year

Not sure

16%

65%

18%

9. If the U.S. government were to offer some kind of legalization to any group of illegal immigrants,

what do you prefer?





policy

The group of evangelical leaders that says this means that the U.S.

government should offer work permits and legal status to illegal

immigrants

Not sure

11%78%11%

10. In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God commands the

ancient Israelites to love the "s-tranger " as themselves. Who do you agree with on the meaning?





policy

The laws violate biblical teaching by keeping out poor foreigners seeking a

better life

The laws follow biblical teaching by protecting the most vulnerable within

the national community

Not sure

11%

56%

33%

11. Do laws passed by a nation's government to limit immigration

violate or follow biblical teaching?





policy

Nations have the moral and sovereign right to decide which and how many immigrants can enter each year

Most people should be able to migrate from country to country since all people are equal children of God

Not sure

75%

15%

10%

12. Which do you agree with more?





Should improve the case for legal status

Should not make any difference

Not sure

18%

71%

11%

13. Many illegal immigrants are active members of

churches. Should that improve the case for giving work permits and legal status or should it not make

any difference?





Very sympathetic

Somewhat symathetic

Not very sympathetic

Not at all sympathetic

Not sure

25%38%20%14%2%

14. Concerning young adult illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, how sympathetic are you to their request for lifetime work permits and legal status?





Very sympathetic


Not sure

6%18%33%40%3%

15. Concerning adult foreign citi-zens who came here on vacation, as students or temporary workers and then overstayed their visas, how sympathetic are you to their request for lifetime work permits

and legal status ?





Very sympathetic

Somewhat symathetic


Not at all sympathetic

Not sure

6%16%21%54%3%

16. Concerning adult foreign citi-zens who crossed U.S. borders il-legally, how sympathetic are you to their request for lifetime work

permits and legal status ?





Yes

No

Not sure

23%

62%

15%

17. Should children born to illegal immigrants, tourists and other foreign visitors be given auto-

matic U.S. citizenship?





Deport most of them because it is the right thing to do under the law

Deport only some of them because mass deportations are not practical

You oppose most deportations as inhumane

Not sure

38%

39%

14%

10%

18. When thinking about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, what is your po-

sition on deporting them?





Strongly supportSomewhat supportSomewhat oppose

Strongly opposeNot Sure

44%24%12%10%11%

19. What is your opinion on proposals to encourage most il-

legal immigrants to go back home on their own by keeping

them from getting jobs and public benefits here?

Strongly or somewhat SUPPORT

Strongly or somewhat OPPOSE

68%

22%

GROUPINGS




Documents

Evangelical VotersNational Poll of evangelical voters' biblical views on immigration policy