Findings from a new survey indicate many Arizonans overestimate how many Hispanics — a demographic group that accounts for one in four state residents — are illegal immigrants and underestimate how many are U.S. citizens.

Maricopa County adults surveyed by the Behavior Research Center estimated that 39 percent of Arizona Hispanics are illegal immigrants. The 2000 U.S. Census found 24 percent of Arizona Hispanics to be “non-citizens,” a grouping that also would include foreign nationals with legal permission to be in the United States.

Those surveyed also estimated that 47 percent of Arizona Hispanics are native-born U.S. citizens, significantly below the 64 percent indicated by Census figures. Those figures also indicated that an additional 8 percent of Arizona Hispanics are naturalized citizens, the center said Sept. 19.

The center also said the respondents’ beliefs on how many Hispanics speak English well (48 percent) conflict with findings of the center’s previous surveys of Arizona Hispanics (80 percent).

The center noted that it conducted its survey at a time when immigration-related issues have received increasing attention at the Legislature and at the ballot box.

Arizona voters have overwhelmingly approved measures to restrict bilingual education (2000) and bar illegal immigrants from receiving certain public services (2004). Meanwhile, a legal and political battle continues over funding for students who are learning English, and announced 2006 candidates for U.S. Senate, governor and state attorney general have pronounced immigration a major issue in their races.

Behavior Center Research Director Earl de Berge said the findings raise questions about whether the public misunderstands the dynamics of illegal immigration issues.

Tarring Law-Abiding Arizona Hispanics

That provides fertile ground for politicians to exploit the issue and means law-abiding Arizona Hispanics could be tarred by misimpressions, Mr. de Berge said. “It’s just patently unfair to just paint the entire Hispanic community as first-generation poor people.”

The beliefs, Mr. de Berge said, apparently reflect “the impact of confusing and often intemperate political crossfire” over the issues as well as hyperbolic rhetoric used by some politicians.

Lawmaker Questions Results

The survey’s validity was questioned by state Rep. Russell Pearce, R-18, a Republican who has sponsored numerous bills related to immigration. He was also a prominent backer of Proposition 200, the 2004 initiative that requires voters to present IDs at polls and restricts eligibility for some public services.

Mr. Pearce said there’s no denying there are legitimate public policy issues concerning violent crime and public spending because of a flood of illegal immigrants.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’s going on,” Mr. Pearce said. “I’m frustrated at those who continue to understate the issue.”

The center conducted its survey Aug. 22-Sept. 2 through telephone interviews with 600 adult heads of household in Maricopa County, home to three of every five Arizonans. The overall survey had a margin of error of just under 4 percentage points while the margin of error for the 70 percent willing to make estimates on immigration status and citizenship was just under 5 percentage points. —

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