A recent poll reveals that Americans are expressing greater concern about legal immigrants committing crimes in the United States compared to a few years ago. This shift in sentiment is largely driven by increased apprehension among Republicans. On the other hand, Democrats maintain their perspective that immigration brings about a wide array of benefits.
According to a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, a significant number of American adults believe that immigrants play a vital role in the economic growth of the country and make important contributions to American culture. However, there has been a shift in perception when it comes to legal immigrants. The survey revealed that fewer major benefits are associated with legal immigrants compared to the past, and there is an increased awareness of the major risks involved.
Around 40% of Americans believe that the arrival of immigrants who come to the United States legally is highly advantageous for American companies, as they bring in valuable skills and expertise in fields such as science and technology. Similarly, a comparable percentage (38%) acknowledges that legal immigrants make a significant contribution by enriching American culture and values.
In 2017, a majority of Americans believed that skilled immigrant workers who entered the country legally were a significant benefit. However, the percentage has decreased since then. Currently, less than half of Americans view skilled immigrant workers who enter the country legally as a major benefit. Additionally, in 2017, half of Americans believed that legal immigrants contribute a major benefit by enriching American culture. Nevertheless, this perception has also declined.
The percentage of Americans who believe that legal immigrants pose a significant risk of committing crimes in the United States has risen from 19% in 2017 to 32% in the latest poll.
Republicans are more inclined than Democrats to view immigration as a personally important issue. In fact, the percentage of Republicans who consider it a major risk that legal immigrants will engage in criminal activities in the United States has increased from 20% in 2017 to 41% now. Republicans, as a whole, perceive greater risks and fewer benefits associated with both legal and illegal immigration, although their primary concern lies with individuals who enter the country illegally.
Bob Saunders, a 64-year-old resident of Voorhees, New Jersey, holds strong reservations about President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration and border security. His primary concern lies in the significant influx of immigrants arriving at the southern border who are subsequently released into the country. Saunders emphasizes the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, underscoring the significance of understanding the background of those who come to the United States. He further highlights the positive contributions made by legal immigrants to the country’s economy, drawing attention to the presence of immigrants within his own family.
“It’s not about being against immigration,” Saunders clarified. “It’s about being against illegal immigration.”
According to recent surveys, a significant number of Republicans, approximately 71%, believe that there is a potential risk of individuals who are in the country unlawfully coming to the United States and engaging in criminal activities. However, it is important to note that numerous studies have indicated that immigrants are less likely to be involved in violent crimes compared to native-born citizens. Moreover, an even higher percentage of Republicans, around 80%, express concerns about the potential strain on public service programs caused by unauthorized individuals residing in the country. Additionally, approximately 6 in 10 Republicans worry about the possibility of these individuals taking American jobs, weakening the American identity through population growth, or engaging in illegal voting. It is worth mentioning, however, that the number of noncitizen voters discovered has been minimal.
Amber Pierce, a 43-year-old Republican from Milam, Texas, acknowledges the desire of many migrants to provide a better life for their children. However, she also expresses her concern about the potential strain on government services that may arise from the influx of migrants.
“I think many of them come to this country and receive free healthcare, which takes away from the hard-working citizens who are already here,” stated Pierce. “They seem to be getting a free pass, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
Democrats, on the contrary, tend to perceive immigration as beneficial. However, the poll did reveal that only half of Democrats currently believe that legal immigrants are making significant contributions to American companies. This marks a decline of over 20 percentage points since 2017. Nevertheless, Democrats are more inclined than Republicans to emphasize the importance of individuals being able to seek refuge from violence or pursue economic opportunities from other countries. They view this as an integral part of the United States’ national identity.
“People come here for a good reason. It’s how many of us ended up here,” stated Amy Wozniak, a Democrat hailing from Greenwood, Indiana. Wozniak highlighted that previous waves of immigrants originated from European countries. However, she emphasized that immigrants from different nations today are also fleeing their homelands for valid reasons. She firmly stated, “They are not all involved in illegal activities.”
Democrats highly value diversity and believe that it strengthens the country, with 83% expressing this sentiment. On the other hand, only 43% of Republicans and Independents share this belief. Republicans, in particular, place a greater emphasis on a shared American culture and set of values as vital to the nation’s identity, although about half of Democrats also recognize its importance.
In the past five years, immigrants have made a significant impact on the United States, according to the majority of U.S. adults. However, when it comes to their own communities or states, fewer people believe immigrants have had a major influence. Roughly 30% of U.S. adults feel that immigrants have greatly impacted their local community, while approximately 60% believe immigrants have had a significant effect on the country as a whole. Interestingly, this gap between perceptions of community impact and national impact is especially prominent among Republicans.
There is a consensus among both Republicans and Democrats on addressing immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The preferred solution, supported by around 80% of Republicans and approximately half of Democrats, is to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. Another widely favored approach, backed by majorities from both parties, is to hire more immigration judges and court personnel.
Around 50% of Americans are in favor of reducing the number of immigrants who can seek asylum upon arriving at the U.S. border. However, there is a significant partisan divide, with more Republicans supporting this approach compared to Democrats. Among the options presented, building a wall, which was a key policy objective of former President Donald Trump, is the least popular and most divisive. Approximately 40% of Americans are in favor of constructing a wall, with 77% of Republicans supporting it, while only 12% of Democrats share the same view.
Donna Lyon, an independent with Democratic leanings from Cortland, New York, holds the belief that a border wall would have limited efficacy in terms of curbing migrant inflow. However, she does advocate for the recruitment of additional Border Patrol agents and immigration court judges to address the mounting backlog of immigration court cases. According to Lyon, this approach would effectively alleviate the current congestion.
Recently, Congress approved funds to recruit approximately 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents. However, there has been no significant increase in funding for hiring more immigration judges this year. It is widely acknowledged that the process of deciding asylum cases takes an excessive amount of time, resulting in migrants staying in the country for several years while awaiting a decision. Unfortunately, both political parties have been unable to reach a consensus on how to tackle this issue.
