FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
As the debate over immigration reform heats up, a hefty majority of Americans are opposed to making it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens.
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A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 66 percent of those surveyed do not want to ease the path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people in this country illegally.
Democrats are more likely than Independents or Republicans to support making it easier for illegals to become citizens.
The poll also shows 52 percent of Americans are sympathetic to illegal immigrants and their families - but 47 percent are unsympathetic; and that number is eight points higher than it was four years ago.
All this comes as thousands of people attended rallies over the weekend in several cities across the country - calling on congress to act quickly on immigration reform. Activists waved American flags and held signs that said things like: "Stop tearing our families apart" and "Reform now."
President Obama has vowed to do everything in his power to get a bipartisan deal through Congress.
But it's not going to happen. As these poll numbers suggest - with a sluggish economy and nearly 10 percent unemployment, a lot of Americans don't have an appetite for immigration reform.
Under President Bush, Congress tried to do the same thing a few years back, but critics called that effort "amnesty," which is exactly what it was, and the legislation never saw the light of day.
Here’s my question to you: Should the U.S. make it easier for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants to become citizens?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ginger writes:
I am sympathetic, but we can use California as a model. Do we want the entire country to be in the same financial situation as California? I think not. How can we be of any benefit to the rest of the world if our country is completely broke?
Jim in Michigan writes:
Jack, If your numbers are correct and 66 percent of Americans oppose this, then you can be assured that Congress and Obama will shove it down our throats, just like health care.
Mellie writes:
Make the process of immigration easier, but close the door on those who come here illegally. When I visit other countries (including Mexico), I follow their rules. I obtain appropriate visas, go through legitimate ports of entry and make sure that I follow all rules that they require. We should expect no less from those who want to come here either to visit or live.
Stuart writes:
The anti-immigration reform position is silly and impractical. We can either retain the status quo or we can develop a program to make the millions of illegal immigrants, legal. We aren't going to deport the vast majority of these people; we might as well work to make them legal, tax-paying residents. Leaving them hiding in the shadows is simply self-defeating.
Ron writes:
No. There is already a well-defined path to becoming a citizen. I agree it is not easy, but it isn't supposed to be.
Bart writes:
With unemployment pushing 10% throughout the states, build the fence, hire immigration enforcement officers and retake our country.
Paul in Baltimore writes:
You can make it easier or not, but in two more generations we will all be speaking Spanish.