Mixed Views on Legal Immigration
The public is quite conflicted on the impact of immigration and many hold positive and negative attitudes about legal immigration simultaneously. Attitudes have certainly been shaken by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - the number of Americans who say immigration should be curtailed has taken a 20-point jump since the attacks. Yet it isn't clear whether people really want fewer immigrants or better enforcement of the immigration laws. In a recent Public Agenda survey, eight in 10 believed immigrants have a greater appreciation for the Constitution than native-born Americans (and immigrants agree). But other surveys show the public says immigration lowers wages and weakens the national character. Emphasizing any one of these findings by itself could be misleading. (See also our special edition on terrorism).
The public is quite conflicted on the impact of immigration and many hold positive and negative attitudes about legal immigration simultaneously. Attitudes have certainly been shaken by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - the number of Americans who say immigration should be curtailed has taken a 20-point jump since the attacks. Yet it isn't clear whether people really want fewer immigrants or better enforcement of the immigration laws. In a recent Public Agenda survey, eight in 10 believed immigrants have a greater appreciation for the Constitution than native-born Americans (and immigrants agree). But other surveys show the public says immigration lowers wages and weakens the national character. Emphasizing any one of these findings by itself could be misleading. (See also our special edition on terrorism).
- A majority of Americans say immigration is a good thing for the U.S.
- Americans are divided on whether immigrants become productive citizens or if they cost taxpayers too much by using government...
- Four in 10 Americans say immigrants improve food, music and the arts in the U.S., but pluralities say...
- Most people, including immigrants, say immigrants take jobs Americans don't want, but the public is divided...
- Support for decreasing immigration has fluctuated but has generally been higher since 9/11
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