Many Americans say immigrants contribute to economy but there’s worry over risks, AP-NORC poll finds – The Washington Post

Americans are more concerned about legal refugees committing crimes in the United States than they were a few years ago, according to a new poll, reflecting a trend that has been driven mainly by Republican concerns. Democrats continue to benefit from immigration, however, a new poll indicates.

According to the Associated Press- NORC Center for Public Affairs Research surveys, significant proportion of Americans believe refugees are significant contributors to American society and contribute to the country’s economic growth. But when it comes to legal refugees, U. S. people see fewer big gains than they did in the past, and more big risks.

About 4 in 10 Americans claim that when newcomers officially enter the country, it is a big plus for American businesses to gain the expertise of qualified personnel in fields like science and technology. A similar share ( 38 % ) also claim that legal immigrants make a significant difference by enhancing American values and culture.

When 59 % of Americans said experienced expatriate workers who enter the country lawfully were a key benefit, and 50 % said legal immigrants contribute a big profit by enriching American culture, both those numbers were down compared to 2017.

Meanwhile, the share of Americans who say that there’s a major risk that legal immigrants will commit crimes in the U. S. has increased, going from 19 % in 2017 to 32 % in the new poll.

Republicans were more likely than Democrats to state that immigration is important to them personally, and 41 % now believe there is a significant risk that legal immigrants will commit crimes in the United States, up from 20 % in 2017. Democrats are more likely to see significant risks and fewer benefits from newcomers who enter the country both legally and illegally general, despite their tendency to be most concerned about those who enter the country illegally.

Bob Saunders is a 64- yr- ancient separate from Voorhees, New Jersey. He is particularly concerned about the number of immigrants entering the southern boundary and being finally released into the country because of President Joe Biden’s performance in terms of immigration and border security. He stressed that there’s a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. According to Saunders, it’s crucial to learn about the immigration history of the United States, and that authorized immigration boosts the economy. He also made note of the refugees in his own home.

” It’s never anti- immigration”, Williams said. ” It’s pro- illegal emigration”.

Some Republicans, 71 %, say there’s a chance of people in the country improperly coming to the U. S. and committing crimes, although some studies have found refugees are less drawn to violent crime than indigenous- born people. About 6 in 10 Democrats are concerned that there is a significant risk of them taking National work, that their community development will weaken American identification, or that they will vote illegally despite the fact that only a small number of noncitizen citizens have been found to be uncovered. In contrast, 80 % of them believe there is a significant chance that people in the country will do so without permission.

Amber Pierce, a 43- year- ancient Republican from Milam, Texas, says she understands that a lot of migrants are seeking a better lifestyle for their children, but she’s also concerned migrants may be a drain on government services.

” I think a lot of them come here and get free health care, and they take away from the citizens who have worked here,” Pierce said. ” They get a free ride. I do n’t think that’s fair”.

Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely to benefit from immigration, despite the fact that only half of Democrats now believe that legal immigrants are contributing significant amounts to American businesses, down more than 20 percentage points from 2017. However, they’re more likely than Republicans to believe that the ability of people to travel from other parts of the world to avoid violence or find economic opportunities is extremely or very important to the United States. S’s identity as a nation.

” People who are coming, are coming for good reason. It’s how many of us got here”, said Amy Wozniak, a Democrat from Greenwood, Indiana. Wozniak claimed that European immigrants have already arrived in previous waves. Now immigrants are coming from different countries but that does n’t meant they’re not fleeing for justifiable reasons, she said:” They’re not all drugs and thugs”.

There’s also a divide among partisans about the value of diversity, with 83 % of Democrats saying that the country’s diverse population makes it at least moderately stronger, compared with 43 % of Republicans and Independents. Although about half of Democrats also believe this to be true, republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe that a common American culture and set of values are crucial to the country’s identity as a whole.

Republicans in particular are more likely than Americans to claim that immigrants have significantly altered the country over the past five years. About 3 in 10 Americans believe immigrants have had a significant impact on their local communities, compared to 6 in 10 who claim the same. The divide between the perceptions of community impact and effects on the country as a whole is particularly large among Republicans.

There is some bipartisan consensus on how to handle immigration at the border between the United States and Mexico. Employing more Border Patrol agents, which is supported by about 8 in 10 Republicans and about 50 % of Democrats, is the most popular question. Hiring more immigration judges and court personnel is also favored by the majority of both parties.

There is a much wider partisan divide, with more Republicans supporting this approach than Democrats, but about half of Americans support reducing the number of immigrants who are permitted to seek asylum at the border. The least favored and most polarizing of the four options is building a wall, which was former President Donald Trump’s signature policy goal. About 4 in 10 favor building a wall, including 77 % of Republicans but just 12 % of Democrats.

Donna Lyon is a Democratic- leaning independent from Cortland, New York. She thinks a border wall would not stop migrants well. However, she supports hiring more Border Patrol agents and more immigration court judges to handle the growing number of immigration court cases:” That would stop all the backup that we have.”

There has n’t been a significant increase in funding for more immigration judges in the last two years, despite the fact that Congress just recently approved funding to hire about 2, 000 more Border Patrol agents. Many on both sides of the aisle have claimed that it takes far too long to decide asylum cases, which leaves migrants waiting for years in the country while the parties have failed to reach a consensus on how to approach the issue.

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The poll of 1, 282 adults was conducted March 21- 25, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability- based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U. S. population. For all respondents, the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.