With more movement on the immigration reform issue in Washington than ever before, it appears that attitudes are softening among Americans when it comes to allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally.
A new survey released by the Pew Research Center Thursday revealed that 71 percent of Americans--that's seven in 10--believe there should be a way for undocumented immigrants who cam illegally into the country to stay, provided they meet certain criteria.
Breaking it down further, 43 percent of those who took the Pew poll believe that those immigrants should be eligible for citizenship while 24 percent feel they should qualify for permanent residency. Roughly 27 who took the poll said that those who came illegally into the nation should not be allowed to stay while four percent remained undecided.
Still, the poll, conducted March 13 through 17 among 1,501 people, reflected a positive trend in the changing attitudes towards immigrants, which is key as the ongoing negotiations continue on Capitol Hill towards getting a deal done on immigration reform-something that President Obama said this week that he expects ready to present to Congress by April and the bipartisan Senate panel working on it is working around the clock to accomplish, despite certain setbacks involving labor and business over immigrant wages.
Key in particular was the demographics of those taking the poll, which illustrated support for immigrants gaining some form of legal status growing across all spectrums.
"Eight-in-ten non-Hispanic blacks (82%) and Hispanics (80%) say those in the United States illegally should be allowed to stay if they meet certain requirements; about half of blacks (52%) and Hispanics (49%) say illegal immigrants should be able to apply for citizenship," the Pew center's report states.
Furthermore, 67 percent of non-Hispanic whites--a two-thirds margin--say undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country legally, while 31% disagree. Among whites, four-in-ten say people in the United States illegally should be able to apply for citizenship under certain conditions being met.
Attitudes have improved, but only slightly, regarding the impact that immigrants have on the nation.
In March 2011, 45 percent of Americans felt that immigrants strengthen the nation while 44 percent felt they were a burden and that immigrants took jobs, homes and health care from other Americans.
The Thursday survey showed that 49 percent of those polled felt that immigrants strengthen the nation "because of their hard work and talent." Meanwhile, 41 percent-four points lower than the last survey-felt that immigrants were a burden on U.S. society.
However, Congress and the President have expressed a desire towards making it easier for certain immigrants, particularly foreign-born entrepreneurs, to be able to come into the U.S more easily.
Beginning this summer, they may have a way to do that, as foreign businessmen will be able to apply for green cards online.
Federal officials Thursday said that a form for the EB-5 investor program visa will be available through Transformation, a new information technology program.
It will be offered through its website known as the Electronic Immigration System, or ELIS, launched in September.
As NextGov.com reports, EB-5 investors applying for the visa have certain requirements, such as proving that they can create or preserve 10 jobs for U.S. workers within two years after arriving in the country. They are required to make a $1 million minimum dollar contribution, but if their business is located in a rural area or an area of high unemployment, that number drops to $500,000.
The EB-5 visa has gained popularity since its inception in the early 1990s, but successful applicants have been few and far between. Only 4,000 qualified applicants applied in 2011 and of those, only 1,500 were approved, according to a 2012 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ombudsman annual report.
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