SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A new poll finds that nine in 10 California voters support allowing illegal immigrants who have been in the country for several years to stay and become citizens if they have a job, learn English and pay any back taxes they may owe.
The Field Poll released Friday finds a majority of voters also support allowing residents here illegally to get California driver's licenses. Voters, however, still back strong border enforcement and penalties for employers who hire illegal workers.
Three-quarters of those surveyed said they supported adding more visas for immigrants with advanced degrees, creating temporary worker programs and allowing illegal immigrant students to pay in-state tuition rates.
Field interviewed 834 registered voters by telephone from Feb. 5-17. The poll has a sampling margin error rate of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
