Nearly 50 percent of California voters describe themselves as “extremely concerned” about illegal immigration

September 8, 2005

California voters are worried about illegal immigration but are not sure whether the state should declare an emergency along its border with Mexico, according to a poll released in mid-September.

New Mexico and Arizona declared states of emergency along their borders last month, citing increased crime and illegal immigration. The declarations gave local officials state money to better address the matter.

Some California lawmakers, including the Democratic leader of the California Assembly, criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for not doing the same.

However, most of those who responded to the survey said they opposed citizen patrols of the border.

The poll found that 49 percent of registered voters in California described themselves as extremely concerned about illegal immigration, 32 percent were somewhat concerned, 18 percent were not concerned and 1 percent had no opinion.

Forty-four percent of registered California voters favored Schwarzenegger declaring a border emergency, compared with 40 percent opposed. Sixteen percent were undecided.

Sixty-three percent of those surveyed thought the number of illegal immigrants crossing into California from Mexico has increased over the past several years. But 56 percent said they opposed private citizens patrolling the border to deter or help seize illegal immigrants. Forty-one percent favored such patrols.

Schwarzenegger angered many Hispanic political leaders in the state this year when he praised the Minutemen group that patrolled Arizona's border with Mexico.

The poll's findings are based on a survey of 615 randomly selected California adults, including 426 registered voters, from August 19 to August 29. The poll had a sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.