Zogby Survey Finds Religious Leaders and Members at Odds Over Illegal Immigration

Stephen Steinlight emails:

Dear Luke,

Hello and (almost) happy New Year. Because you’ve written frequently on Jewish attitudes towards immigration, I very much wished to share the findings (see below) of what is, by far, the largest survey ever done of American Jews on immigration and immigration policy related questions (there are 1684 Jewish respondents). The survey was released this a.m. The findings in the Zogby poll are news because they report a slew of counter-intuitive findings. Findings are also available for other major faith groups, but these contain few surprises. American Jews are always of interest because they’re disproportionately liberal on a range of public policy questions, and when they start to break with that consensus something significant is happening.

While the findings are unsurprisingly in showing a community divided, what is really noteworthy is that a majority takes pro-enforcement rather than pro-amnesty position on most questions. This is very much unlike the lopsided pro-illegal immigration findings in the much smaller cohort used in the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion. The fact is that AJC’s polls are push polls.

The findings are nothing short of remarkable in light of what we’ve been led to believe are “Jewish attitudes.” Thus, fully 78.2% of Jews surveyed (with 48.9 “strongly supporting”) support “reducing the illegal immigrant population over time by enforcing existing immigration laws (such as requiring employers to verify the legal status of workers, increasing border enforcement, and more cooperation with local law enforcement.”)

These findings are far more consonant with my experience of speaking to some 160 Jewish audiences on the subject than anything I’ve seen before.

The likely explanation for these findings is that the option of “attrition” was added — it is unavailable in the AJC survey, as in all other push polls on immigration — producing a finding that more Jews favor enforcement than a “path to citizenship” as well as reducing the illegal population over time through law enforcement. Majorities also disagree with the notion that immigrant labor is needed (60% believe there are enough Americans to do the work), while another finding shows 60% believe government has never made a credible effort to enforce immigration laws.

In these respect, most Jews hold opinions like most other Americans (though given their greater adhesion to what are seen as “liberal” positions, majorities are higher in other faith communities).

These findings are extremely important because they break with what has come to be regarded as the “view of the community,” and show that ordinary Jews are not marching in lock step with their putative leadership.

Here is the press release from CIS:

WASHINGTON (December 29, 2009) – In contrast to many national religious leaders who are lobbying for increases in immigration, a new Zogby poll of likely voters who belong to the same religious communities finds strong support for reducing overall immigration. Moreover, members strongly disagree with their leaders’ contention that more immigrant workers need to be allowed into the country. Also, most parishioners and congregants prefer more enforcement to cause illegal workers to go home, rather than legalization of illegal immigrants, which most religious leaders prefer. The survey of Catholic, mainline Protestant, born-again Protestant, and Jewish voters used neutral language and was one of the largest polls on immigration ever done.

Among the findings:

Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement.

Catholics: Just 11 percent said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 78 percent said it was caused by inadequate enforcement efforts.

Mainline Protestants: 18 percent said not enough legal immigration; 78 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Born-Again Protestants: 9 percent said not enough legal immigration; 85 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Jews: 21 percent said not enough legal immigration; 60 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Unlike religious leaders who argue that more unskilled immigrant workers are needed, most members think there are plenty of Americans to do such work.

Catholics: 12 percent said legal immigration should be increased to fill such jobs; 69 percent said there are plenty of Americans available to do such jobs, employers just need to pay more.

Mainline Protestants: 10 percent said increase immigration; 73 percent said plenty of Americans are available.

Born-Again Protestants: 7 percent said increase immigration; 75 percent said plenty of Americans are available.

Jews: 16 percent said increase immigration; 61 percent said plenty of Americans available.

When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members choose enforcement.

Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization.

Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support legalization.

Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support legalization.

Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support legalization.

In contrast to many religious leaders, most members think immigration is too high.

Catholics: 69 percent said immigration is too high; 4 percent said too low; 14 percent just right.

Mainline Protestants: 72 percent said too high; 2 percent said too low; 11 percent just right.

Born-Again Protestants: 78 percent too high; 3 percent said too low; 9 percent just right.

Jews: 50 percent said it is too high; 5 percent said too low; 22 percent just right.

Discussion
Most major denominations agree that illegal immigrants must be treated humanely. But the leadership often goes much further and takes the position that illegal immigration is caused, at least in part, by not letting in enough legal immigrants. They then call for increases in the number of workers and family members allowed into the country. For example, early this year, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a resolution stating that, “Due to the limited number of visas, millions have entered the United States without proper documentation.” The NAE then calls for increases in the number of immigrant workers allowed in. The Catholic Church states that the law must be reformed so that more “laborers from other countries can enter the country legally.” The Episcopal Church adopted a resolution in July of this year stating that, “Immigrants are filling the jobs that go unwanted and unfilled by U.S. citizens.” The resolution makes clear more immigrant workers need to be allowed in legally. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in November 2009 adopted a document that states illegal immigrants do jobs that “citizens often will not do” and that legal immigration should be increased to meet, “the annual need for foreign workers.” A Commission of the Union for Reform Judaism argues that limits on immigration contribute to illegal immigration, and calls for legislation that “Increases the number of visas allowing unskilled laborers to work in the U.S.”

Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other, and elected officials in the middle.