America Turns Nativist
Every generation that has immigrated to our shores has, by and large, eschewed their tie to the motherland, and today, once our new arrivals are here, they often favor limiting immigration of others yearning to experience the American dream. Once the huddled masses are safely here, they’re not too keen on welcoming others with the exception of their kin who yearn to follow them.
A current Gallop Poll reveals that today, Americans, more often than not, want to curb immigration to the United States. Remarkably, compared to just a year ago, Americans by a margin of 55% versus 41% want to see immigration to America curtailed. This is the first time in twenty years that most Americans prefer that we have less immigration.
All three political groups (Republicans, Democrats, and Independents) now favor limiting immigration, with 88% of Republicans favoring less immigration, 50% of Independents favoring less immigration, and even Democrats, 28% of whom are calling for less immigration.
These are startling statistics compared to three or four years ago when most Americans called for more immigration. While there are no firm reasons for the reversal, a good bet might be that as the presidential election draws nearer, nativist sentiment is growing. Seventy-six percent of Americans now voice support for hiring significantly more border patrol agents, and nearly two-thirds of Americans are in favor of allowing the president and the secretary of Homeland Security to prohibit individuals from seeking asylum when they determine that our Southwest border is “overwhelmed.”
Today, for the first time, more than half of voting-age Americans favor increasing the construction of barriers on the border with Mexico, which is the first time a majority of all Americans has favored walling off Mexico.
Nonetheless, 70% of American adults favor allowing some immigrants who entered the country illegally to become U.S. citizens if they can meet specific requirements over a period of time, and 81percent approve of a path to citizenship for children who were brought to the United States illegally as children.
Not surprisingly, Gallop found that Republicans and Democrats have divergent views on immigration policies. Republicans are most likely to favor hiring more agents and expanding the construction of border walls. At the same time, Democrats show the highest support for allowing children brought to the U.S. illegally (so-called dreamers) the chance to stay in the U.S.
Republicans embrace a much tougher position on deporting all people who are in the U.S. illegally, with a slim majority of Democrats supporting allowing those in the U.S. illegally the chance to become citizens. A majority of Republicans and Independents favor building more border walls, something only 17% of Democrats favor.
Majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents support hiring more border patrol agents, allowing the executive branch to suspend asylum claims when they believe the border is overwhelmed, and allowing immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children the chance to stay and become citizens.
On key policy proposals, Republicans’ and Democrats’ levels of support differ substantially. There is a 74-point gap between Democrats and Republicans on expanding the construction of border walls, a 62-point gap on deporting all immigrants in the U.S. illegally, and a 41-point gap for allowing those in the U.S. illegally the chance to become citizens.
Opinions by political parties regarding the following policies have changed significantly since 2019, according to Gallop.
The percentage of Republicans in favor of deporting all illegal immigrants in the U.S. has increased by 21 points, from 63% in 2019 to 84% today.
At the same time, there has been a 24-point drop in Republican support for allowing immigrants in the U.S. illegally the chance to become citizens, from 70% to 46%.
Independents’ support for significantly expanding the construction of walls along the U.S.-Mexico border has increased 17 points, from 34% to 51%.
According to Gallop, most Americans have consistently described immigration as a good rather than a bad thing for the country. Specifically, 64% evaluate immigration positively, and 32% negatively. The share with a positive view is down from the high of 77% in 2020 but, according to Gallop, remains above the low point of 52% in 2002, corresponding to the first poll taken after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Gallop reports less favorable views of immigration among Republicans in the past four years. Since 2020, the percentage of Republicans who say immigration is a good thing has dropped 23 points to 39%, a new low for Republicans. This is even lower than the 47% measured for Republicans after 9/11, when Americans overall had the least favorable views of immigration.
Independents show a smaller drop of 12 points since 2020, with 66% now describing immigration as a good thing. Democrats’ views of immigration have not changed meaningfully; currently, 86% have a favorable view.
Immigration a Greater Issue According to Gallop
Twenty-five percent of U.S. registered voters say a candidate must share their views on immigration to secure their vote, up slightly from 20% in 2015. Another 56% say immigration will be one of many important issues they consider when voting this year, and 16% say not so much.
Republican registered voters are much more likely than Democratic and Independent voters to say a candidate must share their views on immigration. Voters who prefer that immigration levels be decreased say the issue is more important to their vote than those who want levels kept the same or increased.
Bottom Line According to Gallop
Immigration has become a more significant concern for Americans, particularly Republicans, this year after the record number of illegal border crossings last year. For the first time in nearly two decades, most Americans want immigration levels to be reduced rather than kept at their present level or increased.
Please share our weekly commentary with others.
Of Thee I Sing 1776. Subscribe here:
Recent podcasts have featured my commentary on Liz Cheney’s book, “Oath and Honor,” as well as my commentaries regarding:
U.S. Representative Jim Jordan,
Brian Kemp and Those Republicans of Georgia,
The Trump Indictments,
The Fox Corp Settlement,
The CNN Trump Town Hall,
The Hunter Biden plea deal,
The New American Cult of Personality,
and my interviews with William Bratton, Retired Chief of Police in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Rikki Klieman, Attorney, Network News Analyst, and best-selling author;
John Thoresen, Executive Director, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center;
Katherine Gehl, co-author of The Politics Industry and founder of the Institute for Political Innovation,
Jazz artist Ann Hampton Callaway,
Outlander author Diana Gabaldon,
AI Data Scientist Lawrence Kite,
Ryan Clancy, Chief Strategist of No Labels,
Senator Barbara Boxer,
Senator Joe Lieberman,
and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.
Please consider our Of Thee I Sing 1776 Premium option. While my weekly column is always free, for just $5/month, you’ll receive my annual ebook, “Essays For Our Time,” and my new Podcasts.
Subscribe here: https://oftheeising1776.substack.com/subscribe.
Hal,
Glad you're back and feeling well.
Marc
To me - and anyone I ask - it's clear - we welcome legal immigration at a level higher than current legal limits - especially for those interested in joining our experiment in government and contributing to our pluralistic society. We abhor and wish to discontinue illegal immigration. For those here illegally, in some situations (children whose parents brought them here years ago or true asylum seekers) there must be a path to extended stay and some eventual form of citizenship. For many others, yes - they should be deported to their home country - especially if guilty of criminal activity in the US.