Rational folks

A new study by CSUS’ Department of Social Sciences suggests most area residents are in favor of legalizing undocumented immigrants. The 2007 Sacramento Annual Survey of the Region found that 71 percent of those polled supported allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States on a path to eventual citizenship.

The study also found that a lesser majority of 55 percent wanted the low-income children of undocumented immigrants to have guaranteed medical coverage. On the issue of obtaining driver’s licenses, 62 percent of those polled responded that undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to obtain them.

Nevertheless, the generally sympathetic results for undocumented immigrants did not come as a surprise to Francisco Estrada, the director of public policy for the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “I think these findings show that the majority of folks are rational and understanding about what drives people to come here,” Estrada said.