America is a Nation of Values - and Family is part of those values

The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) conducted one of the largest surveys ever fielded on immigra­tion policy, immigrants, and religious and cultural changes in the U.S.

The survey of nearly 4,500 American adults explores the many divisions—political, religious, ethnic, geographical, and generational—within the nation over core values and their relation­ship to immigration.

Some of the survey’s findings and highlights are as follows (the link to the report is posted below):

• More than 6-in-10 (63%) Americans agree that the immigration system should deal with immigrants who are currently living in the U.S. illegally by allowing them a way to become citizens, provided they meet certain requirements.

This is an important number that shows that Americans value the contributions of those already living in their communities.  These immigrants are integrated into the fabric of their society and the day-to-day lives of every member of the community.

• More than 7-in-10 (71%) Democrats, nearly two-thirds (64%) of independents, and a majority (53%) of Republicans favor an earned path to citizenship.

This shows a change in the previous position of Republicans - a softening of their herts or perhaps just a political motivation.  Whatever the reason, the change is significant and welcomed - see bullet point below.

• Majorities of all religious groups, including Hispanic Catholics (74%), Hispanic Protestants (71%), black Protestants (70%), Jewish Americans (67%), Mormons (63%), white Catholics (62%), white mainline Protestants (61%), and white evan­gelical Protestants (56%), agree that the immigration system should allow immi­grants currently living in the U.S. illegally to become citizens provided they meet certain requirements.
       
• Nearly half (45%) of Americans say the Republican Party’s position on immigration has hurt the party in recent elections.

The Republican Party must recognize that the composition af America has changed and has been changing for decades.  Young, diverse, educated, intelligent, global voters are more complex in their assestment of values - and family values is no longer a national, but an international concept.

• Views about immigrants’ impact on American society are strongly associated with political ideology. Conservatives (36%) and liberals (31%) are nearly equally as likely to say that immigrants are changing their own communities a lot. How­ever, conservatives (53%) are significantly more likely than liberals (38%) to say that immigrants are changing American society a lot.
  
• Overall, Americans are more likely to have positive rather than negative views about immigrants. A majority (54%) of Americans believe that the growing number of newcomers from other countries helps strengthen American society, while a significant minor­ity (40%) say that newcomers threaten traditional American customs and values.

The tides are changing, and a brand new world is coming to America.

Recent Survey on Immigration Reform