Recent Poll Shows Broad Public Support for Legalizing the Undocumented

A February 2021 Quinnipiac poll shows majority support among the U.S. public, regardless of party affiliation, for creating a path to permanent residency for individuals living in the U.S. without legal status.

Overall, 74% of those polled believe that undocumented individuals should be able to live permanently in the U.S, including 9% agreeing they should be able to stay but with a status falling short of full U.S. citizenship.  While support varied along party lines, 54% of Republicans support legalization, with 41% of those agreeing that the undocumented should have a path to full citizenship.

Even more of those polled support a path to U.S. citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, with 83% of respondents in favor, including 66% of Republicans.

Last summer, Gallup found, for the first time since it began asking the question, more public support for raising the levels of immigration to the U.S. than for lowering immigration levels.  Gallup recently reiterated the strong public support for getting immigration reform done.

More than 90 Maine businesses, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and higher education institutions recently launched the Maine Compact on Immigration to urge Maine’s Congressional delegation to lead on federal immigration reform efforts.  With the positive public polling nationally and broad support from Maine’s business and higher education communities, Maine’s delegation could help get long overdue common-sense immigration reforms over the finish line in Congress in 2021.