Florida Voters Say Immigration is an Important Issue

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Nov 04, 2010, 05:13 ET

Majority Favor Arizona-Style Enforcement Law

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Exit polling of Florida voters in Tuesday's election finds that nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of them rated immigration as an "important" or "very important" factor in determining their votes for Governor and U.S. Senator. By a 57 percent to 36 percent margin, Florida voters would like to see their state implement immigration enforcement measures similar to those enacted in Arizona. The poll of 500 voters was conducted by The Polling Company Inc. on behalf of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

The poll reveals the depth of concern about the impact of illegal immigration on the state. Fully 41 percent of Florida voters said they "strongly support" implementation of state-based policies designed to discourage illegal immigration. Illegal immigration has become a critical issue for the state, as unemployment has risen to 12 percent and Florida taxpayers now pay an estimated $5.46 billion a year to subsidize basic services to illegal aliens and their families.

National exit polling shows that only 31 percent of American voters believe the federal government is doing enough to enforce laws against illegal immigration, while 61 percent say the Obama administration is not acting aggressively enough to deal with the problem. "In Florida and across the nation, voters are making it very clear that if the federal government will not carry out its responsibilities to the American people, they want state and local governments to implement their own policies to enforce those laws and discourage illegal aliens from settling in their states and communities," observed Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

"The new governor and the incoming legislature will be forced to make difficult cuts as they try to balance Florida's budget and help unemployed Floridians find jobs. The exit polling shows that they have a clear mandate from the voters to free-up existing jobs and reduce the staggering costs of illegal immigration by adopting sensible state-based enforcement policies," Stein said.

Polling results also indicate that voters expect their representatives in Washington to demand more vigorous enforcement of immigration laws by the federal government. "The current administration's refusal to enforce most immigration laws has left state and local governments to fill the void. Clearly voters do not believe the federal government is carrying out its enforcement responsibilities, and the exit polling demonstrates that Florida voters want their congressional representatives to bring that message to Washington," said Stein.

Results of both the Florida and national exit polls can be found on FAIR's website, www.fairus.org/election.

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.

SOURCE FAIR