Americans favor immigration executive action, 67-28

[Likely Voter]

This is a complex issue and I suspect a lot depends on the wording. For example, here is how Hart and NBC polls describe the executive action

Hart description

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NBC/WSJ

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As you can see the NBC/WSJ poll didn't actually describe the executive action, just that Obama took one without Congressional approval. The Hart wording was very detailed describing the action in the way the administration would like.

That is why Hart gets 67/28 favorable and NBC/WSJ gets 38/48 approve/disapprove. In separate questions both poll (as others) have shown that large majorities favor the pathway to citizenship. I think what the NBC WSJ poll is showing mostly is that while some approve of the policy, they don't like Obama acting without Congress. (Of course, how many of them realize that Congress has held up on acting for 1 1/2 years)

[Likely Voter]

I thought Rasmussen was trying to go legit, that question is just ridiculous.

[Likely Voter]

looking at the Rasmussen and Gallup tracking polls, there is a small net uptick in Obama's approval since the announcement but that could be just noise. But how this plays out with Obama is actually kind of irrelevant. The bigger issue is how it will play out in 2016.  Will reversing Obama's order 'on day one' be a litmus test for GOP primary? And will vowing to ramp up deportations be a liability for the general? That is the big game here.

[Likely Voter]

Here is how Quinnipiac asked the question, first they set it up with this question:

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They then followed up with this:

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So again they didn't actually describe Obama's executive order and the previous question may actually lead many to think Obama's order was to let every illegal immigrant stay and become a citizen. Again this is why the Hart poll (which described how the order was limited) comes up with a different result.


In a way this is not unlike Obamacare. Polling shows that when asked about it in general, a plurality are opposed to it, but when you ask about the details, majorities like the features of health care reform. And most don't want to see it fully repealed, which is the parallel here. How many Americans want the government to spend the resorces required to deport 11M undocmented, including the 5m who parents of US citizens and have been here 5 years (aka the ones in Obama's order)?

That is the trick for the GOP in 2016. How can they find a way to be against this order and against immigration reform but not be painted as being for massive deportation.