Despite believing that immigrants enhance our society, few
Americans favor increasing immigration, according to a new national
poll conducted by researchers at Hamilton College and Zogby
International. The Hamilton Immigration Opinion Poll finds that more
than 4 in 10 Americans favor decreasing immigration levels. Results
also indicate that concerns over national security outweigh support for
immigration increases.
The survey of 1,078 randomly selected adults was designed and
analyzed by Hamilton Economics Professor Paul Hagstrom and his
students. It queried respondents on everything from treatment of Iraqi
refugees fleeing Saddam Hussein to public assistance issues, from
illegal immigration to issues of national security. The poll is the
sixth in a series of polls designed by Hamilton College researchers,
funded by Hamilton's Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center, and
administered by the Zogby International polling firm. The survey has a
margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
The poll's main findings include the following:
Forty-one percent of U.S. residents favor decreasing immigration
levels, despite the fact that 57 percent believe that immigrants
enhance American society. Sentiments to reduce immigration are stronger
in the central and southern states than in eastern or western states.
Forty-nine percent of Republicans versus 33 percent of Democrats say immigration should be decreased.
Only a third of Americans feel that the U.S. government is
taking adequate steps to ensure that terrorists are not legally
admitted in the country.
Americans are not concerned that immigrants will take their
jobs. About 60 percent believe that immigrants take jobs that Americans
do not want while 23 percent feel they take jobs that Americans want.
Only 12 percent of workers worried about losing their job to an
immigrant.
Sixty-three percent of Americans would support a policy than
stops all immigration from countries suspected of harboring terrorists.
Younger and higher educated Americans are more likely to favor increases in immigration.
The highly religious are more uncomfortable with immigrants from the Middle East than the nonreligious.
Sixty-five percent of urban residents believe immigrants
enhance society compared to 49 percent for small town and rural
residents.
Over half of U.S. residents believe that most immigrants are
in the U.S. illegally although the true estimate is less than 30
percent.
Three-fourths believe that an immigrant who does not speak English can be a good citizen.
Over half of all Americans would feel very or somewhat
uncomfortable if an immigrant from the Middle East moved into their
neighborhood. This compares to discomfort percentages of 22 percent for
immigrants from Europe, 27 percent for immigrants from Asia, and 29
percent for immigrants from Mexico.
Few, only 20 percent, favor increasing refugee levels (as
opposed to immigrant levels) to pre-September 11th, 2001 levels, while
70 percent say they should not be increased.
Over half of all Americans say immigrants should be eligible for welfare, food stamps, and medical assistance.
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