IMMIGRATION 2020 POST-FORUM QUESTIONNAIRE Survey

1.Here are some priorities for improving the US immigration system. Thinking about yourself and your community, which of these items do you see as one of the top two or three priorities for improving the system, which do you see as helpful but not a top priority, which is not a priority at all, and which do you oppose? Keep in mind that making major changes in the US immigration system will be difficult, and we’ll have to make some choices about what to work on first.

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Giving undocumented adults who entered the US without permission years ago a chance to pay a fine and back taxes and earn a pathway to legal status

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Building a secure wall along our southern border to prevent the constant flow of illegal immigrants, drug dealers, and other criminals among them

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Prosecuting employers if they hire workers without legal papers

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Giving legal status to “DREAMers”—the children of undocumented immi- grants brought to this country with their families when they were very young

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Deporting those who entered the US illegally and requiring them to apply for legal entry just as many others already do

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Reducing the number of legal immigrants and refugees admitted to the US every year

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Restricting family reunification to spouses and young children (immediate, rather than extended, family members) to better control the number of legal immigrants allowed to enter the country each year

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Ensuring that children caught up in the immigration system remain with their families and receive good care and schooling

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

Requiring all immigrants who apply for permanent residency to learn English

One of my top three priorities

Helpful but not a top priority

Not a priority at all

I oppose this

I am unsure about this

2.Which is more important to you? If you’re not sure, please let us know.

To show we are a nation of laws and prevent people who break the law from getting an unfair advantage, we should
deport the millions of immigrants who came here illegally and make them reapply for entry to the US.

Deporting millions of people who are living and working here peacefully because they entered the country illegally years ago is cruel. In this case, the punishment far outweighs the crime.

Not sure

3.Which is more important to you? If you’re not sure, please let us know.

Welcoming newcomers from around the world makes our country vibrant and strong; we should keep immigration at current levels.

Current levels of immigration are too high, and the country is now becoming so diverse that we are endangering our ability to assimilate newcomers and maintain our national unity.

Not sure

4.Which is more important to you? If you’re not sure, please let us know.

Welcoming immigrants who want to work since they are badly needed in a number of low- and high-skilled fields

Giving preference to well-educated, financially self-sufficient immigrants who will not take jobs away from low-income Americans or become a burden on their community’s social services

Not sure

5.Which statement comes closer to your view? If you’re not sure, please let us know.

Pressuring so-called sanctuary cities to cooperate with federal immigration agents is merely enforcing the law. We can’t allow communities to set up their own rules in defiance of federal legislation.

Local communities are right to push back against federal authorities who might harass and frighten undocumented residents. Local police forces can determine whether immigrants pose a danger or not.

Not sure

6.Which statement comes closer to your view? If you’re not sure, please let us know.

Deporting millions of undocumented immigrants working illegally across the country would give many Americans a chance at jobs they need.

Deporting these immigrants would wreak havoc on a number of American industries, such as farming and meatpacking, that depend heavily on these workers. Most Americans don’t want these jobs.

Not sure

7.Thinking about your forum overall, how much disagreement was there among the group?

A lot of disagreement

Some disagreement

Hardly any disagreement at all

8. Did you talk about aspects of the issue you hadn’t considered before?

Yes

No

If so, please explain.

9.Were there ideas or proposals that you tended to favor coming into the forum that you now have second thoughts about?

Yes

No

If so, please explain.

10. What could citizens, working together, do in their own communities to address this problem?

12.Gender:

Male

Female

Other (please specify)

13.Age:

15.Where do you live?

Rural

Small Town

Large City

Suburban

16.What is your zip code?

17.What state do you live in?

18.Did you attend this forum in person or online?

19.What issue would you like to see covered in a future forum?

IMMIGRATION 2020 POST-FORUM QUESTIONNAIRE

Who Should We Welcome, What Should We Do?