Washington – Two of every three non-Latino voters in Arizona – 66 percent – support maintaining the Constitutional right to birthright citizenship and providing the children of undocumented immigrants with the same public benefits that U.S. citizen children receive, according to a recent poll commissioned by the bipartisan children’s advocacy group First Focus.

Additionally, more than half of Arizona voters surveyed – 55 percent – say they find Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policies unfavorable. Thirty percent of voters say they favor his policies.

“Despite what popular media and presidential candidates have been saying regarding the rights of immigrant children, voters clearly think otherwise,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “This is especially true when it comes to birthright citizenship, a Constitutional right that the voting public strongly supports.”

The recent poll, commissioned by First Focus and conducted by Lake Research Partners, surveyed 600 non-Latino registered voters (100 in each state) by telephone between Feb. 22-26 with a +/- 4 percent margin of error. Republican, Democrat and Independent voters in the states of Ohio, Missouri, Arizona, New York, Minnesota and New Mexico were asked several questions related to their views on the rights of immigrant children.

When asked about their general views on immigrant children, 63 percent of Arizona voters said they held favorable views, while 12 percent said they were unfavorable. Twenty-five percent had no opinion. Sixty-one percent of Arizona voters also agreed that children of undocumented immigrants should have the same rights as U.S.-citizen-born children, 32 percent disagreed and 5 percent had no opinion.

“Clearly, there is strong support in Arizona and a moral obligation to ensure that all children have access to the benefits and services to help them grow up to be healthy, educated, and productive adults that can contribute to the future of our shared nation,” Lesley said. “Our immigration policies should reflect the American values of compassion and dignity, especially when it comes to children.”

Overall (six-state) findings from the poll include:

  • Voters are dissatisfied with the immigration policies of both President Obama and Donald Trump, with 45 percent of respondents saying they find the president’s policies unfavorable and 55 percent of voters saying they find Trump’s immigration policies unfavorable. Only 30 percent of respondents favored Trump’s immigration policies.
  • Three-fifths of voters (60 percent) report a favorable view of immigrants overall and 63 percent are favorable of immigrant children living in America. Only 22 percent of respondents were unfavorable to immigrants and 16 percent were unfavorable of immigrant children.
  • In every state surveyed except Ohio, a majority of voters (53 percent) agree that all children living in America, despite their legal status, should have the same rights as U.S.-born children.
  • Two-thirds of voters (67 percent) support maintaining the Constitutional right to birthright citizenshipfor all children born in the United States. New York voters are the most supportive of this policy, with 81 percent of respondents in favor. Twenty-two percent of overall respondents were opposed to birthright citizenship.
  • The economy and jobs top voters’ list of priorities for Congress in all six states, with 32 percent of respondents saying it should be Congress’s top priority. Education and schools ranked second at 21 percent, and terrorism ranked third at 18 percent.

For additional poll findings and analysis, click here.

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First Focus is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.firstfocus.org.