Depends on the polls, Kurt. I agree there's a major division, but not quite as bleak as you put it.

What's most dangerous is 'ship them all back to where they came from' -- first, because it's a relatively large sentiment, and second, because its irrational. It simply can't be done. So when irrationality runs up against immpossibility, even worse things can happen.

Here's some of Eric Zorn's stuff from the Trib:

'The support for deportation / no legalization in real polls varies widely from poll to poll:

* Do you favor deporting all illegal immigrants back to their home countries? Yes -- 47% (Time, March 2006)

* Should the government deport all illegal immigrants back to their home country? Yes -- 18% (USA Today/Gallup, April 2006)

* Would you favor or oppose allowing illegal immigrants who have done the following to stay and work in the United States: paid a fine, been in the U.S. for at least five years, paid any back taxes they owe, can speak English, and have no criminal record?" Oppose-- 23 % (CBS News April, 2006)

* Would you favor or oppose allowing immigrants with jobs who are in the United States illegally to apply for legal, temporary worker status?" --Oppose 41% (Associated Press, March, 2006).

* Do you think illegal immigrants who are living and working in the United States now should be offered a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status, or do you think they should be deported back to their native country? Deported, 36% (Washington Post/ABC, January, 2006)

and finally:

--How do big street demonstrations by members of the immigrant community make you feel about proposed crackdowns on illegal immigration?

* More likely to support a crackdown 56%
* No change 28%
* Less likely to support a crackdown 16%

Armchair analysis -- I wonder how real this backlash is (see the other click poll results below). It's easy to say that observing the effrontery of illegal immigrants making demands of the nation they have sneaked into has hardened your heart and firmed up your resolve. But main effect on me of watching the river of humanity flowing into and through the Loop was to make me realize in a variety of ways how unthinkable mass deportation would be; how we're going to have to get real instead of getting tough, to paraphrase Steve Chapman.

Appx. 11,000 responses
(Survey results not scientific)

Compare the results of my last question to a simpler poll at chicagotribune.com:

Regarding immigration issues, these rallies have made me:

* More sympathetic 32%
* Less sympathetic 68%

17,530 total responses'