Legal Immigration Polls
April 2, 2012
- Only 22% of likely U.S. voters believe that “bringing in more immigrant workers would create economic growth, which would provide more jobs for unemployed Americans.” 66% believe that increased immigration creates more competition for unemployed Americans. 73% said that there are plenty of unemployed Americans to fill lesser-skilled jobs (Pulse Opinion, August 2013).
- Only 23% of American adults support increasing immigration levels to the U.S. 35% want immigration decreased, while 40% want it to remain at its present level (the current number of over a million annual immigrant admissions was not supplied to respondents) (Gallup, July 2013).
- Only 26% of U.S. adults want to see an increase in legal immigration if the federal government successfully prevents illegal immigration. 38% want to see a decrease in legal immigration along with the prevention of illegal immigration (Rasmussen, May, 2013).
- 49% of U.S. adults believe that legal immigration increases the threat of terrorism, compared to 41% who do not (The New York Times, CBS, April 2013).
- 55% of registered voters want to decrease legal immigration; 28% believe it should be increased, and 10% want no change (Fox News, April 2013).
- About 138 million adults currently living outside the United States said they would like to permanently relocate to the United States. This is 22% of potential migrants who wish to relocate to another country. The United Kingdom is the next preferred location, favored by 7% of potential migrants (Gallup, March 2013).
- 64% of Americans are dissatisfied with the level of immigration to the United States; 28% expressed satisfaction. Of those who were dissatisfied, 42% indicated that they wanted the immigration level to be decreased, while only 6% said it should increased (Gallup, January 2012).
- Among likely voters, 68% of African-American, 56% of Hispanics, and 57% of Hispanics believe immigration to the U.S. is too high (Zogby, February 2010).
- 67% of likely voters including — 63% of Executives, 70% of Small Business Owners, and 63% of Union Member Households — believe that immigration to the U.S. is too high (Zogby, February 2010).
- 78% of likely U.S. voters believe that mass immigration has adversely impacted the quality and cost of the U.S. health care system (Pulse Opinion Research, August 2009).
- 50% of American think immigration to the U.S. should be decreased, while only 14% want to see an increase in immigration to the U.S. (Gallup, August 2009).
- 68% believe that employers who hire illegal aliens should be punished (Rasmussen, March 2009).