More than perhaps ever before in U.S. history, illegal immigration has become a hot—and highly controversial—topic. And with the presidential election quickly approaching, it seems as though everyone wants a piece of the illegal immigration opinion pie. Which leaves one pressing question: What do Americans really think about illegal immigration?
Illegal Immigration Polling Data
In order to find the answer to the question posed above, a number of public polls have been conducted. However, polling data seems to be fairly inconsistent; what “Americans” think may depend on who you ask, and when you ask them.
For example, in a recent poll conducted by YouGov, participants were asked, “How serious a problem is illegal immigration in the United States?” 51 percent of the respondents said that they believed it to be a “very serious” problem, and 26 percent said they believed it was a “somewhat serious” problem. Furthermore, the same poll asked whether respondents would support or oppose “immigration authorities actively searching for illegal immigrants who have not committed any other crimes to deport them from the U.S.?” Nearly 50 percent said that they would either strongly support or somewhat support the idea; only 38 percent said they would strongly or somewhat opposed the idea.
Even more shocking, perhaps, is the IBD/TIPP poll that asked respondents whether or not they support the mandatory deportation of illegal immigrants in the U.S. 87 percent of Donald Trump’s supporters backed the proposal, as did 59 percent of the overall public. And apparently, among likely voters, 51 percent favor building a wall to keep immigrants out.
Hope for support of immigrants in the U.S.?
On an entirely different note, a Pew Research survey conducted in May revealed almost the exact opposite of the polling data above – the survey concluded that 80 percent of democrats, 76 percent of independents, and 56 percent of republicans (for an average of 70.66 percent) believe that undocumented immigrants in American should be allowed to stay if they meet certain legal requirements.
A Scary Time for Immigrants in America
With the polls saying a lot of different things—and with animosity against undocumented persons in America no doubt growing—now is a scary time to be an immigrant in America. From facing criminal charges to deportation and more, if you’re worried about your status as an immigrant or are unsure how federal immigration legislation may affect you, you need to consult with an immigration attorney.
Immigration Attorneys in Massachusetts
At Goldstein Immigration Lawyers our immigration attorneys won’t give up on you. We know the fear and stress that you’re facing, and we want to help. To schedule a consultation with us today, call 617-722-0550 now.
Sharing is caring:
