Sixty-six percent (66%) of likely voters nationwide say it is Very Important for the government to improve its enforcement of the borders and reduce illegal immigration. However, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 32% of America’s Political Class agrees.

An even more dramatic gap appears on the question of legalizing the status of those immigrants now in the country illegally. Voters nationwide are evenly divided on the question of whether it is even somewhat important: 48% say it’s important, and 45% say it’s not.

However, among the Political Class, 74% say legalizing the status of these residents is important, and only 17% disagree.

This finding confirms that little has changed since the 2006 debate when immigration reform legislation championed by President George W. Bush and senior senators of both parties was defeated. Although that legislation had tremendous support among the political elite, the Senate was eventually forced to surrender to public opinion.

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In 2006, the debate in Washington, DC centered around the details of how citizens could earn a “path to citizenship.” That was clearly a secondary issue among the general public which viewed gaining control of the border as the top priority. The legislation failed primarily because hardly anybody believed it would address that primary objective: Only 16% thought the Senate bill would reduce illegal immigration.

The final Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll before the Senate vote found that just 22% of Americans supported the legislation.

One major misunderstanding has clouded the debate over immigration. Most pundits assume that those angry about the issue are angry at the immigrants. In fact, data shows that the anger is directed primarily at the federal government. Rather than being angry at immigrants, 56% continue to favor a welcoming immigration policy that would let anybody move to the United States except national security threats, criminals and those looking to live off the U.S. welfare system.

Regardless of the perspective, few Americans see the immigration issue as a top priority for President Obama at this time, although he has said he wants to address immigration reform this year. Data released earlier shows that immigration ranked fifth out of five priorities behind deficit reduction, health care reform, energy issues and education.

Overall, voters are evenly divided on the question of whether it’s possible to end illegal immigration: 45% say it is while 41% say it is not. However, by a 58% to 28% margin, the Political Class strongly rejects that notion and says it is not possible to end illegal immigration.

Earlier surveys have found that 68% say those who employ illegal immigrants should be punished. An Arizona sheriff who employs what some consider controversial methods to find and deport illegal immigrants is one of the most popular political figures in that southwestern state.

On an issue that tripped up Hillary Clinton during her run for the Democratic presidential nomination last year, just 15% of voters believe undocumented workers should be able to get drivers’ licenses. Seventy-seven percent (77%) say they should not.

Among the Political Class, opinion is much more divided: 39% favor drivers’ licenses for undocumented workers while 50% are opposed. At the other extreme, those who hold a Mainstream, or Populist, view are opposed to issuing drivers’ licenses to undocumented workers by an 83% to 12% margin.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of Americans believe that a police officer should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when the officer pulls that person over for a traffic violation.

Most Americans share the Populist, or Mainstream America, view. Those in the Political Class tend to have more confidence in political leaders and less trust in the wisdom of the American people.

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