Concern with illegal immigration spikes

Most people support changing a human trafficking law so the United States can speed up the deportation process for unaccompanied child immigrants illegally entering the country, according to a new poll. 

{mosads}The Associated Press-GFK poll similarly found that most people, 53 percent, believe the United States does not have a moral obligation to offer asylum to immigrants coming to the country to escape prosecution and violence. 

Highlighting the current problem, the poll found 67 percent said illegal immigration is an extremely serious problem, up 14 percent since May. 

Republicans are set to vote on a $659 million package to deal with the surge of minors apprehended attempting to cross the southern border, mostly originating from Central America. 

The proposal changes a 2008 human trafficking law that currently allows child migrants from countries other than Mexico and Canada to be released into the care of a sponsor in the United States to await deportation hearings. 

Fifty-one percent support amending the human trafficking law to speed up those deportations, by treating Central American migrants the same as those from Canada and Mexico. Eighteen percent oppose any change in the law, while 29 percent neither favor nor oppose it. 

A Pew poll released earlier this month also showed most people support amending the law. 

Many Democrats in Congress are opposed to the change and have called for emergency spending at a higher rate than the Republican plan.  

Those polled were split on emergency spending, with slightly more saying they oppose extra funding to improve living conditions of those being detained. 

Also, for the first time this year, respondents trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle immigration. Twenty-nine chose Republicans, while 25 percent chose Democrats. Twenty-nine percent said neither, while 16 percent said both. 

The online poll surveyed 1,044 people from July 24-28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.