HOUSTON — A new study found that Texans have a variety of viewpoints when it comes to the complex issues surrounding immigration.
Researchers at the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs conducted an online survey of 1,200 Texans to uncover their opinions on bills being considered by the Texas Legislature during its current session–which began earlier this month–as well as other salient political issues.
One of the six reports expected to be published from the survey’s findings was about Texans’ feelings when it comes to immigration and border security issues.
About 87% of Texans support deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a felony, and 72% support deportations for those whose asylum claims were denied, according to the survey. Almost two-thirds of respondents also believed there should be limits on the number of people who can claim asylum.
Over 35% of people surveyed said they believed undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the U.S.
But, researchers also found that 64% of Texans say undocumented immigrants who don’t have a criminal record or meet other requirements should be allowed to stay in the country. Of that percentage, 56% of respondents supported a pathway to citizenship for those immigrants, while the other 44% supported a pathway to legal permanent residency.
“Texans certainly don’t see immigration as a black or white issue,” said Renée Cross, a researcher and senior executive director of the Hobby School, in a news release.
A vast majority of survey respondents–73%–also said that migrants who came to the U.S. as children should be allowed to stay and work. Despite that, 56% also said they support repealing the Texas Dream Act, which was passed by the Legislature in 2001 and allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges.
“More than seven out of 10 Texans, or 72%, support allowing more highly skilled workers into the country,” Mark P. Jones, a senior research fellow at the Hobby School, said in the release. “Another 69% say there should be legal avenues for people who can fill a labor market need.”
These sentiments came after a federal appeals court declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy (DACA) unlawful–a program that was created under President Barack Obama and shielded young immigrants from deportation and granted them work permits.
On issues of border security, 67% of the Texans surveyed said they support expanding the border wall along with additional barriers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Fewer people, about 61%, supported increasing government spending to ensure that migrants have safe and sanitary conditions at the border.
Immigration has been brought into the national spotlight over the past couple of weeks as President Donald Trump and his administration have made it one of their top issues.
Cities across Texas have already seen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids during Trump’s first weekend in office. Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott also directed state agencies to cooperate with the Trump administration on mass deportation efforts and sent additional state troops to Rio Grande Valley.
The Hobby School’s full immigration and border security survey report is available on its website.
