Americans Walk Soft Line on Immigration

Lou Dobbs, take note: A majority of Americans back key immigration reform proposals  making their way through Congress, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. Americans across the political spectrum say they support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and two-thirds back a guest-worker program.

Their representatives are less sure. The Senate this week halved the number of guest workers covered by the program but defeated a challenge to provisions that give illegal immigrants a chance at legal status. One measure with consistent support is a more secure border: Tougher controls, which are expected to fly through Congress, have the backing of 82% of Americans. (More immigration reform stories.)