A special follow-up Pew Global Attitudes poll found America’s favorable rating tumbling in Mexico in response to Arizona’s enactment of a law aimed at dealing with illegal immigration by giving police increased power to detain people who are suspected of being in the country illegally. Only 44% of Mexicans gave the U.S. a favorable rating following the signing of the bill, compared with 62% who did so before the bill passed. Also, prior to the law’s passage, 47% of Mexicans had confidence in President Obama’s international leadership, but after passage only 36% held this view. A majority of Mexicans (54%) say they disapprove of the way Obama is dealing with the new law. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.