Alabamians will be a tough sell for Bush's amnesty proposal

January 13, 2005

Most Alabamians are opposed to immigration, but support helping legal immigrants learn English and become citizens, says a recent survey.

The state’s residents believe immigrants take jobs away from American workers,
and this answer suggests that President Bush will have a tough time selling his guest worker visa proposal to voters who clearly dislike the influx of immigrants.

Bush is committed to asking Congress for a guest worker visa program. The proposal, sketched out only in broad terms, would allow illegal immigrants to sign on for a three-year commitment to a job in the United States, renewable once, and ease the path toward permanent residency.

Conservative Republicans who believe it is too much like amnesty.

Bush insists that the visas would go only to people holding jobs that employers were unable to fill with U.S. citizens. The idea has gained support among agricultural interests that rely on immigrants for the demanding physical labor of the farm.

In the telephone survey of 1,018 Alabamians, 58 percent agreed that guest immigrant workers take jobs away from Americans and 55 percent disagreed that immigrants bring needed skills to the state.

The poll was inspired by local officials in Alabama who have raised concerns about their growing immigrant populations. It was conducted by the Center for Governmental Services at Auburn University, a nonpartisan center that polls only on policy issues, politics.

When asked whether the state should provide 'assistance' to new guest immigrants, 56 percent disagreed. But when that assistance was specified as English classes, offering information about citizenship or educational assistance for children, the support grew to 65 percent and higher.

Researchers were surprised to find strong support for giving information and help with language skills to those who want to be become citizens 'so they can become part of the community,’ There was less support for things such as affordable health care and housing, he said.

Republicans in Congress, including those in Alabama's delegation, have expressed reservations about Bush's guest worker plan.