Slim Majority of Americans Supports Citizenship for Illegals

Divided along partisan lines, of course

A slim majority of Americans believe that illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the United States and apply for citizenship, according to a new poll that found support for citizenship is on the rise.

Fifty-one percent think illegal immigrants should be able to remain in the country and apply for citizenship, while an additional 20 percent think they should stay as guest workers. Twenty-four percent say they should have to leave the country, according to a CBS News poll released Monday night.

The latest survey shows an eight percentage point shift from the 43 percent of Americans who thought illegal immigrants should be able to stay and apply for citizenship in March 2010; 21 percent thought they should stay as guest workers while 32 percent thought they should have to leave at that time.