A new poll finds clear partisan divides on the question of providing education and other benefits to children of illegal immigrants and a general softening of attitudes toward those children,
USA Today reported.
The poll, conducted by public education advocacy group Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK), found that 41 percent favor providing public benefits to children of illegal immigrants, up from 28 percent in 1995, USA Today reported.
There were "clear partisan divides" on the issue, according to the poll, with 65 percent of Democrats vs. 21 percent of Republicans favoring school funds for the children.
PDK Executive Director William Bushaw told USA Today he suspected that national debates over tough state immigration laws in Arizona and Alabama raised awareness about immigration issues.
Wendy Puriefoy, president of the Public Education Network, told USA Today that the 41 percent figure was "very disheartening."
"We're all immigrants, and we've always helped each other. And the fact that people are thinking that they don't want to help each other anymore just doesn't feel like what most Americans I know believe in their hearts," Puriefoy told the paper.
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