Mexicans view U.S., Obama more favorably, 20 percent would immigrate illegally

Mexicans are viewing the United States more favorably again, according to a national opinion survey of Mexico done by the Pew Research Center. Mexicans also have greater confidence in Obama.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Pew conducted the survey in early to mid-March and asked 1,000 adults about their attitudes towards the United States. A full two-thirds, 66 percent, said they have a favorable opinion of the U.S. This is up by about 10 percent from a year ago and much higher than in 2010 when only 44 percent had a favorable opinion.

In 2010, the passage the of restrictive Arizona immigration law upset many Mexicans and caused public opinion there to drop.

Nearly 50 percent of Mexicans also say they expect Obama will "do the right thing" when it comes to international affairs. This is down a bit from his initial high of 55 percent which he enjoyed following his first inauguration.

It is interesting to note that foreign nationals tend to have a better opinion of Obama than what he enjoys amongst many Americans. However, his domestic behavior, which many criticize, is rarely taken into account in such surveys. The people of other countries are not having their taxes raised and are not being cast into Obamacare.

Many Mexicans also hope that Obama will grant amnesty to their families living illegally in the U.S. and that he will open the gates to permit them to come into the country as well. A full 20 percent of responders said they would move to the U.S. illegally if given the chance.

Another 15 percent said they would only immigrate legally.

Sixty-one percent said they had no interest in immigrating and a final 3 percent said they had no opinion.

Quite relevant is the recent return of many immigrants from the United States. In the poor economy, many illegal immigrants have had difficulty finding work in the U.S. and have since gone back to Mexico. Their return has discouraged others from immigrating.

The war on drugs, which is essentially an armed insurrection, also has Mexicans worried. The extreme brutality of cartel violence has many living in fear and upset since the United States is keeping the cartels in business thanks to its insatiable appetite for illegal drugs. The flow of weapons across the border into cartel hands isn't helpful either.

Many Mexicans want to see their military engage the cartels in an expanded role, complaining that their government continues to fail in its effort to stem the trafficking and violence.

The survey also showed that Mexicans were willing to accept American help in the form of arms for the military and training, however, they do not want U.S. troops to be deployed.

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