The survey found that a plurality of voters, 41 percent, though those crossing the border illegally should face criminal punishment, while 32 percent said it should just warrant a fine, the poll results reported in The Hill said.
The report noted that the issue surfaced in a recent televised debate of ten Democratic candidates when nine of ten presidential hopefuls saying that illegal border crossers should not face criminal punishment.
The results split along party lines, with 67 percent of Republicans favouring criminal prosecution for illegal crossings compared with 24 percent of Democrats, the report said.
Among independent voters, 36 percent favoured treating illegal entry as a crime, compared to 33 percent who said complaints should be dismissed with a fine, according to the report.