Summary of Results From Member Survey on Immigration (2006)
According to the results of a 2006 NFIB member survey, over 90 percent of NFIB-member small-business owners believe illegal immigration is a problem. Seventy percent call it a "very serious" or "serious" problem. Eighty-six percent say it should have a "very high" or "high" priority for in Congress and Administration.
The single most important reason illegal immigration constitutes a problem, according to these small-business owners, is the cost of illegal immigrants to taxpayers (47 percent). Other most important concerns are: National security and the threat of terrorism (23 percent), disrespect for the law (13 percent), and job loss/depressed wages for Americans (10 percent).
A plurality of small-business owners (43 percent) say too many legal immigrants are admitted annually, with a similar proportion (38 percent) saying the number is about right. Just 14 percent say too few are admitted.
NFIB members believe the first priority for legal immigration should go to those who have job skills or qualifications that are in short supply (44 percent), followed by those with family ties to people already in the country (22 percent), and then "first come, first serve" (20 percent).
NFIB members support admitting foreign nationals to fill skilled jobs where government-certified shortages exist (56 percent to 27 percent), and allowing people to enter the country, work for a specified period and return home (62 percent to 21 percent).
NFIB members have a mixed view on amnesty for illegal immigrants. About half with an opinion say there should be no amnesty under any circumstance; half hold the other view. A sizeable majority oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants if they only need to prove that they have been living in the US for at least three years (21 percent favor to 65 percent oppose), but members are split on amnesty if illegal immigrants are employed and not dependent on government services (45 percent favor to 45 percent oppose).
By a 78 percent to 15 percent margin, NFIB small-business owners favor increasing penalties for employers who KNOWNINGLY hire illegal immigrants.
Small-business owners would deny illegal immigrants access to publicly supported social programs by an 88 percent to 6 percent margin and would detain suspected illegal immigrants until their hearing by a 57 percent to 28 percent margin.
NFIB members are split evenly on the merits of a border fence. Among those opposing the fence, two-thirds attribute their views to lack of effectiveness.
Small-business owners would consider verification of ID used by an employee to prove eligibility to work (needed for Form I-9) a moderate burden. However, the burden could be reduced by a single location verification/authorization system that would certify document authenticity.
Overwhelmingly, the primary identification document presented small-business owners is a driver’s license; the primary work eligibility document is a social security card.
Executive Summary of Results From NFIB Member Poll on Immigration (2007)
- NFIB members favor allowing guest workers into the United States and mostly agree that the number of guest workers should be dependent on the needs of business owners, not limited by government-set caps.
- NFIB members support measures to ensure that guest workers are being hired on a need only basis and not for cheaper labor.
- Seven percent of NFIB members have hired one or more guest workers within the last two years.
- Nearly all NFIB members who hire guest workers pay them above the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. Thirty percent of owners pay guest workers 10 dollars or more per hour.
- The majority of NFIB members are not in favor of special breaks or lenient treatment of illegal immigrants or those business owners who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
- Nearly 80 percent of respondents believe that illegal immigrants should be required to return to their native country and seek readmission through the standard process.
- Eighty-three percent of respondents believe that employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants should be subject to fines and or other penalties.
- The vast majority of NFIB members are opposed to allowing illegal immigrants access to non-emergency social services. Only 6 percent believed that they should have access.
- Seventy-three percent of NFIB members are supportive of a mandatory employee verification system, but are split on how the system should be financed, by an employer fee or by taxpayers.
