Poll: 63% Believe Illegals Burden US Economy; 70% Say Threaten US 'Beliefs & Customs'

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that illegal immigration threatens the country’s “beliefs and customs” while also placing a burden on the economy. 

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 70% of Americans, including 86% of Republicans, believe illegal immigrants “threaten traditional U.S. beliefs and customs,” while 63% believe that “immigrants place a burden on the economy.” 

According to Reuters, “the findings suggest immigration could join Obamacare – the healthcare insurance overhaul – and the economy as hot button issues that encourage more Republicans to vote in November’s congressional election.”

Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the Chamber of Commerce and high-tech lobbying groups like FWD.us, as well as the free ride the mainstream press have given them in support of more amnesty, Americans think unchecked immigration, especially illegal immigration, impacts American workers and places a burden on social services. 

In fact, 45% of those surveyed want less legal immigration at this time, while 38% said the number of legal immigrants being admitted should remain the same. Only 17% “thought more legal immigrants should be allowed to come to the United States.”

A Gallup poll has found that illegal immigration is the top problem facing Americans. It was third in the Reuters poll. And nearly every national poll taken since June has found that a majority of Americans want illegal immigrants sent back to their home countries as quickly as possible. 

The issue is resonating far beyond border states, as the Obama administration has burdened local governments from coast to coast by dumping illegal immigrant juveniles, nearly 90% of whom are teenagers, in communities that often can least afford to house them.

In New Hampshire, for instance, where Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown became the first candidate to address the border crisis in a statewide television ad, 76% believe that illegal immigrants threaten the country’s “beliefs and custom,” which is six points higher than the national poll. A state Senate candidate told Reuters that “seven out of 10 voters voice worries about immigration and refugees when he canvasses door to door.” Voters told Reuters that illegal immigration will decide which party gets their support in the future. 

The online poll of 2,014 Americans was conducted July 15-22 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.