POLLING: Majority Oklahomans Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2014

CONTACT: Pat McFerron

SURVEY SHOWS MAJORITY OF OKLAHOMANS WANT ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WILL SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM 

Data shows 69 percent would vote for a candidate who supports comprehensive immigration reform over one that focuses only on border security

OKLAHOMA CITY —The Partnership for a New American Economy today released the results of a recent statewide survey showing that 75 percent of registered voters in Oklahoma favor immigration reform. In addition, when given the choice between a candidate who supports a comprehensive solution with a way to earn citizenship for illegal immigrants and a candidate who supports only a border security, voters largely prefer the candidate who supports a comprehensive solution.

“In Oklahoma, where Republicans hold a two-thirds majority in the state legislature, as well as all statewide offices and Congressional seats, the voters want immigration reform,” said John Feinblatt, Chairman of the Partnership for a New American Economy. “Clearly, this issue has support from every side of the political spectrum and in states across the country. It’s time for Congress to act now.”

Participants were asked if they would favor or oppose an immigration reform package that required those living in the United States illegally to pay taxes, pay a fine, pay an application fee, have a job, have no criminal record, and wait 10 years in order to gain citizenship, as long as the reforms also included funding for securing the border and tracking illegal immigrants through e-verify and other programs.

“Oklahomans clearly favor immigration reform by wide margins.  The findings of this survey demonstrate that even in “deep red” states, the need for reform is understood and the remedies being discussed in Washington are supported by Oklahoma voters,” said Pat McFerron, Senior Political Consultant at CMA Strategies, who conducted the poll.

Key Findings 

• 75 percent of Oklahomans support a comprehensive immigration reform package – 50 percent are strongly in favor.

• Support for comprehensive immigration reform was constant across party lines, garnering support from 75 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats.

• The largest base of support came from weekly church goes, 77 percent of whom favored comprehensive immigration reform.

• Very little age variation exists.  76 percent of those under the age of 45, 74 percent of those between the ages of 45 and 65, and 75 percent of those over the age of 65 support a comprehensive package.

The poll was conducted by Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates on April 1^st– 4th, of 500 registered voters and had a margin of error of 4.3 percent.

See the complete poll here: Immigration Polling

About the Partnership for a New American Economy

The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership’s members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Partnership members understand that immigration is essential to maintaining the productive, diverse and flexible workforce that America needs to ensure prosperity over the coming generations. Learn more at www.RenewOurEconomy.org.