Immigration Reform 2013 Poll: CNN Survey Finds Most Americans Want Border Security Focus; Latinos Differ

A new CNN/ORC International poll indicates that most Americans believe the "main focus" of the US government in dealing with immigration policy should be "increasing border security to increase or eliminate the number of immigrants coming into this country without permission from the US government". 62% of the 1,014 adult Americans who responded on June 11-13 this year made that the top priority, compared to 36% who said the main focus should be creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are already in the country. But an earlier June poll carried out by Presente.org and Latino Decisions shows that this apparently broad support among Americans for emphasizing border security in immigration policy is not shared by most Latino voters.

In the Presente.org and Latino Decisions poll, when asked, "Should we first focus on border security, or address both a path to citizenship and border security?", 81 percent of Latinos responded that both should be addressed. Only 13 percent said they thought the border should come first.

RELATED: 7-Eleven Raids Find 'Modern-Day Plantation System', Say Feds

More than three-quarters also said they opposed the option of providing legal status only without a path to citizenship, and a majority opposes excessive fines on undocumented immigrants. 86 percent put the appropriate waiting period for those who seek to apply for citizenship at 5 years. The Latino Decisions poll also indicated the unpopularity of immigrant detentions and raids, with 73 percent saying Immigrations and Customs Enforcement should not increase the number of those detained.

RELATED: Proof Of Citizenship Arizona Law Struck Down By Supreme Court

Past surveys have shown Americans to be generally in favor of beefing up security along the border. A poll conducted in April by ABC News and the Washington Post indicated that eight in 10 Americans favored enhanced border security, including 61 percent of Hispanics. But this latest poll's revelation that many Americans think border security should be the main focus of immigration policy was indeed original territory, and may prove significant politically, as some Republican lawmakers like Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have recently been pushing for the proposed path to citizenship to hinge on the fulfillment of explicit steps taken to seal off the border. Currently the bill sets apprehension and surveillance goals and lets the Department of Homeland Security decide how it should be carried out.

RELATED: John Morton Resigns From Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The CNN/ORC International poll also appeared to reaffirm public support for a version of immigration reform similar to what the Senate is considering. 51% of American voters said they supported a bill that would attempt to increase border security and create a pathway to citizenship for many undocumented immigrants. 45% said they were opposed to such a measure.