FAIR: Exit Poll Indicates Growing Voter Concern about Immigration and Strong Opposition to Unilateral Action by President Obama

"Democrats who walked the plank with President Obama and Harry Reid on amnesty were punished by the voters."

- Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

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Nov 06, 2014, 06:25 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Exit polling of more than 800 actual voters in Tuesday's midterm elections proves that concern about immigration policy weighed heavily as people cast their votes, and that there is strong public opposition to President Obama acting without authority from Congress to grant amnesty and work authorization to millions of illegal aliens.

According to the nationwide poll conducted by The Polling Company on behalf of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), 78 percent of voters indicated that a candidate's position on immigration policy was an important factor in determining their vote. Further, 56 percent of voters expressed support for congressional legislation that would "prevent President Obama from using federal funds to legalize" millions of illegal aliens through executive action.

"Strong concern about the direction of U.S. immigration policy correlates directly with who won and who lost in close races on Tuesday," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "Each of the incumbent Senators who were defeated voted in favor of 2013 legislation that would have granted amnesty to illegal aliens, as did three other incumbents in races that have yet to be decided. Especially in swings states, Democrats who walked the plank with President Obama and Harry Reid on amnesty were punished by the voters."

Despite the decisive repudiation from the voters, President Obama vowed Wednesday he will move ahead with plans to abuse his executive authority to grant deferred action and work authorization to millions of illegal aliens. Tuesday's exit polling indicates that congressional Republicans have strong support from the voters to block the president's plan by cutting off funding.

"Incoming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other leading Republicans have said they would act to defund any unauthorized executive action on immigration. Not only would such an effort reassert Congress's constitutional authority over immigration policy but, according to national polling data, it would enjoy broad public support," Stein asserted.

"As Congress considers appropriations in the lame duck session, and into the 114^th Congress, they have a clear mandate from the voters to use the power of the purse to block the president's unconstitutional effort to grant amnesty to illegal aliens through executive action," Stein continued.

In addition to exit polling conducted on behalf of FAIR, raw election data indicate broad public preference for immigration enforcement over amnesty, including from Latino voters. Governor-elect Greg Abbott in Texas, who campaigned against amnesty and in favor of border enforcement, won 44 percent of the Latino vote. In Georgia, Senator-elect David Perdue, who ran on a pledge to oppose amnesty, captured 42 percent of the Latino vote.

Perhaps the most definitive indication of voter support for enforcement of immigration laws came from voters in Oregon, a Democratic stronghold. In that state, by 67%-33% margin, voters elected to overturn a 2013 law that would have granted driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

The nationwide poll of 806 actual voters was conducted on November 4 and 5.

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

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SOURCE FAIR