Figure 4 Immigration in the U.S. ? (% saying Path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S. Better border security and stronger enforcement of immigration laws Both should be given equal priority
In recent years, the debate over illegal immigration has often been posed as a choice between two competing priorities—increasing border security and enforcement or providing a path to citizenship to immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Latinos are nearly twice as likely as the general public (42% versus 24%) to say the priority should be a path to citizenship for immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.
About as many Latinos as the general public (46% versus 43%) say equal priority should be given to enforcement and legalization. Just 10% of Latinos say priority should be given to better border security and enforcement, compared with 29% of the general public.
Figure 4  | What Should Be the Priority for Dealing with Illegal  | Immigration in the U.S. ?  | (% saying  | Path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S.  | Better border security and stronger enforcement of immigration laws  | Both should be given equal priority  | General population  | 24  | 29  | 43  | All Hispanics  | 42  | 10  | 46  | Notes: for the N=1, Peo ple 220, & the 2011 Press National November Survey 2011 ofLatinos; Responses N=2 001, of None Pew of Research these Center Don't  | Notes: for know the and N=1, Peo ple 220, Refused & the 2011 Press are National nots November hown, Survey 2011 ofLatinos; Responses N=2 001, of None Pew of Research these Center Don't  | Source: Pew Hispanic Center, 2011 National Survey of Latinos; Pew Research Center  | for the People Hispanic & the Press November2011  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 