New polling showing high levels of dissatisfaction with the Obama administration’s handling of federal immigration policy, as well as majority support for doing “a lot” more to reduce illegal immigration, has so far been ignored by the nation’s top Spanish-language television networks.
According to the latest Pew Research Center survey, 56% of adults disapprove of President Obama’s handling of the nation’s immigration policy. Even among Hispanics, disapproval of the President’s handling of the issue (48%) exceeds approval (44%).
Similarly, the national evening newscasts of Univision, Telemundo and MundoFox failed to report that 51% of those surveyed believe “a lot” can be done to reduce illegal immigration at U.S. borders.
All three networks typically dedicate large chunks of their news programming to immigration-related topics. However, on this occasion, only Univision dedicated a 29-second brief to the survey, and limited its report to those polling results which were favorable to the network’s pro-amnesty agenda.
Specifically, Univision highlighted the finding that 72% of those polled support allowing unauthorized immigrants currently living in the U.S. to stay in the country, if certain requirements (which were unspecified in the survey question) are met. Univision noted the above position was also supported by 56% of Republicans.
The view that granting unauthorized immigrants in the country legal status would be a reward for wrongdoing, however, was held by 58% of Republicans surveyed, (36% of respondents overall, including 19% of Hispanics).
Other inconvenient results that went unreported by the networks included the finding that a sizable 41% of respondents believe immigrants are a burden to the country, due to their perceived negative impact on jobs, housing and health care. In addition 31% of those surveyed believe current legal immigration levels to the country should be decreased, with that view being held by 42% of Republicans.
The Pew Research Center surveyed a representative nationwide sample of adults. Survey participants included U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike.
The relevant portion of Noticiero Univisión is transcribed below.
Noticiero Univision 06/04/2015 6:30 PM
English Translation:
ILIA CALDERON: The majority of Americans agree that immigrants in an irregular situation should have a permanent legal status in the country. This according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.
ENRIQUE ACEVEDO: The poll concludes that 72% of Americans support the legalization of the undocumented. For their part, 56% of those who identified as Republicans consider they [the undocumented] should be allowed to remain in the country if they comply with certain requirements, though the requirements were not specified.
Español Original:
ILIA CALDERON: La mayoría de los estadounidenses está de acuerdo en que los inmigrantes en situación irregular tengan estatus legal y permanezcan en el país. Esto de acuerdo a un sondeo del Centro de Investigaciones Pew.
ENRIQUE ACEVEDO: La encuesta concluye que el 72% de estadounidenses apoya la legalización de los indocumentados. Por su parte, el 56% de quienes se identifican como republicanos considera que deben poder permanecer en el país si cumplen determinados criterios, aunque no se aclara cuáles son esos requisitos.
