Majority of Arizonans Favor New Immigration Law

Fifty-two percent of Arizonans support the state's new immigration law with 39 percent opposed to it and 9 percent undecided, according to a Rocky Mountain Poll conducted April 15-25.

That's roughly the same outcome that a New York Times/CBS News poll,conducted April 28 - May 2, found nationally: 51 percent said the law, aimed at reducing the number of illegal immigrants in the state, was "about right," while 36 percent percent said it went too far, 9 percent said it did not go far enough, and 4 percent were undecided. A Gallup poll conducted April 27-28 also had 51 percent of those who had heard of the law supporting its enactment, compared with 39 percent opposed.

The new law requires police to check the immigrant status of people suspected to be in the country illegally. However, the poll was conducted before Gov. Jan Brewer last Friday signed into law changes aimed at reducing the potential of racial profiling. The changes prohibit police from basing their suspicions on race, color or national origin.

Arizona Republicans favored the law by 76 percent to 15 percent, with 9 percent undecided. Democrats opposed it by 58 percent to 30 percent, with 12 percent undecided. Hispanics opposed it by 69 percent to 21 percent, with 10 percent undecided.

Registered voters favored it by a slightly higher number than the general public -- by 56 percent to 34 percent, with 10 percent undecided.

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