Majority of Americans Believe Deportation of Illegal Immigrants Not Agressive Enough

Katie Pavlich | December 10, 2013 2:00 PM

According to a new Rasmussen Report, the majority of Americans do not believe the deportation of illegal immigrants living in the United States is aggressive enough.

More than 20 House Democrats last week urged President Obama to halt the deportation of illegal immigrants until Congress passes a comprehensive immigration reform plan, but voters by a two-to-one margin oppose that idea. Most already think the federal government is not vigilant enough in deporting those who are in this country illegally.

Only 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the government should stop deporting illegal immigrants until Congress passes an immigration reform plan. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% oppose a halt to deportations. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.

Sixty percent (60%) believe the U.S. government is not aggressive enough now in deporting illegal immigrants. Fourteen percent (14%) say it is too aggressive, while 16% think the number of deportations is about right.

Further, a majority of Americans want a secure border before any kind of path to citizenship is granted for millions of illegal immigrants already living in the United States.

Just 19% of voters believe that those who are not in this country illegally should be granted legal status right away. Sixty-four percent (64%) say legalization should come only after the border is secured. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure.

Americans believe federal government policies encourage illegal immigration instead of discouraging it. Over the past three decades, we've seen a catch and release policy being used to briefly detain illegal immigrants after a crime before being released. It is only after illegal immigrants commit a serious felony causing major bodily harm, injury or death to an American are they finally deported back to their home country. As a result of a porous border, these criminals often come back into the United States without detection.

Congress is expected to take up the issue of immigration reform early next year.