California Voters Believe in 'Dreams'

Overwhelmingly Support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), According to The California Endowment Poll

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Dec 06, 2017, 18:12 ET

FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent poll commissioned by The California Endowment, voters across the state are very familiar with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and want to see DACA become law.

About 75 percent of those surveyed offered overall support of DACA, with 74 percent saying they back a permanent DACA program. Conversely, voters overwhelming disapprove of a repeal of the program.

"Once again, California proves that we don't follow, we lead," said Dr. Tony Iton, Senior Vice President with The California Endowment. "We must not be divided by our differences. We believe in these young people, and we know they are the reason California thrives."

"Californians understand that DACA recipients and immigrant youth are a reason our communities thrive," said Marcus Tang, Citizenship and Immigration Project Director with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. "Our diversity is our strength. These young people must not be removed from the only country they call home."

DACA is a US immigration program that began under the Obama administration in June 2012. DACA allows undocumented residents who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. These young adults are often referred to as "dreamers," and many came to the US as young children, which means this is the only country they know.

The survey was done by a bipartisan team—Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates (FM3) and Public Opinion Strategies—and they found that support cut across many of our state's demographic groups, including support from three in five moderate and liberal Republicans who back DACA.

"Few voters are undecided on this issue," said David Metz, President of FM3. "And given their broad familiarity with DACA and strong views on the issue, it is likely that broad support for making DACA permanent will remain stable and strong."

The survey was conducted of 1,100 voters in California, with a base sample of 800 voters statewide and oversamples of 200 voters in the Central San Joaquin Valley and 100 voters in the Inland Empire.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental affordable improvements in the health status of all Californians. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people's health. At its core, The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools, and with prevention. For more information, visit The California Endowment's homepage at www.calendow.org.

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SOURCE The California Endowment