In December 2009, the Center for Immigration Studies released results of a poll conducted by Zogby International. Among its findings: Many people of faith want overall immigration reduced, regardless of what their religious leaders are advocating on the issue. The findings drew criticism from the Public Religion Research Institute.

A March 2010 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found broad support across religious groups for comprehensive immigration reform and strong approval for clergy speaking out on the issue.

See an April 29, 2010, Gallup poll analysis of Americans’ views on the Arizona immigration law.

See a May 4, 2010, analysis of a USA Today/Gallup poll about public opinion on immigration reform.

See a May 4, 2010, story about a New York Times/CBS survey on immigration.

A Gallup poll released Dec. 10, 2010, shows that a slim majority of Americans polled, 54 percent, would vote for granting legal status to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, which is the centerpiece of the DREAM Act.

Read about a 2009 study on churches’ outreach to first-generation immigrants in North America. LifeWay Research conducted the analysis for the North American Mission Board, the domestic missions agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The libertarian Cato Institute in 2009 released a study claiming that legalizing undocumented workers in the United States would bring an added $180 billion to the U.S. economy during the next decade, while only toughening laws and tightening borders would actually hurt American households economically.

The Council on Foreign Relations has a web page listing a number of immigration experts and their contact information.