Public Poll Favoring Liberal Immigration Presented to Congress

A public opinion poll which found that the United States public favors a liberal immigration law was called to the attention of Congress today by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey. He presented the results of a Gallup Poll showing that some 14 million adults who were familiar with the McCarran-Walter Act believed that the immigration law should be made more liberal.

Some of the results of the poll show that a majority–53 percent–when asked the question “from what you know, do you think there should or should not be changes made in the McCarran-Walter Act#” responded that changes should be made. Only 15 percent said “no.” On the question “do you think this Act should be made more strict or more liberal#” Sixty-eight percent favored more liberal provisions and 26 percent more strict provisions.

Another result of the poll reveals that in all groups there is a definite majority approving the idea of European families coming into their neighborhood to take up residence. The degree to which different groups hold this belief is as follows:

1. People in the Far West are more inclined to think this a good idea than Easterners, followed by Mid-Westerners and Southerners, in that order.

2. By size of city, the idea finds greatest favor among persons in medium-size cities, than small towns, followed by big-city dwellers, and then those living in rural areas.

3. College-trained persons are more in favor than those persons with high school and grade school education.

4. Professional and business people look more favorably on the idea than other occupation groups. The farmers hold the smallest majority in favor of Europeans coming into their neighborhood.