What with presidential candidates from all sides trying hard to ascertain their positions on the thorny issue of immigration most of Americans state that they are in favor of a pathway to legal citizenship for unlawful immigrants. This was according to a poll that was published last week by a research center that conducted a survey.

According to the survey more than 70 per cent of the surveyed said that those immigrants who were staying in the country illegally should be allowed to stay there if they met requirements. This number also included around 40 per cent of Americans who stated that these immigrants should be allowed to turn citizens and there were 26 per cent who stated that they should only be allowed to become permanent residents.

Among the Republicans a majority of those surveyed – around 55 per cent – support a path to legal status for undocumented entrants. Most Republicans are not very supportive of their party’s stand on illegal immigration, with more than 55 per cent staying that the party was not doing a good job on how their views on illegal immigration were being represented.

Democrats on the other hand supported legal status with an overwhelming response, with more than 79 per cent stating that those immigrants who met requirements should be allowed to stay.

President Obama had stated in November, that he would give protection from deportation and employment permits to more than 4 million undocumented immigrants , which was opposed by Texas and 25 states and blocked in the federal courts.