More Americans think US companies benefit from legal immigration, poll finds
FILE-A Texas National Guard soldier directs immigrants towards a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on September 28, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
A recent poll shows that more Americans believe immigrants benefit from the U.S. amid President Donald Trump’s efforts to impose new restrictions on the nation’s legal immigration system.
To gather data for The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, researchers polled 1,183 people between Sept. 11-15, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel.
More Americans see benefits from immigrants for economic growth and companies
Local perspective:
According to the AP-NORC poll, people say they are more likely to see "major" benefits from individuals who come to the U.S. legally and are less likely to see "major" risks, compared with a separate poll from 2024.
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Roughly 6 in 10 Americans say a "major" benefit of immigrants in the country legally is that they contribute to economic growth, which went up from about 4 in 10 in March 2024. Additionally, 51% of people say a "major" benefit of legal immigration is that American companies get the expertise of skilled workers in fields like science and technology, compared with 41% in March 2024.
Changing opinions don’t extend to immigrants in the U.S. illegally
By the numbers:
The poll reveals that people tend to see higher risks — and smaller benefits — from immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, and these opinions haven’t changed since 2024.
Approximately 4 in 10 people now say it’s a major benefit that immigrants in the country illegally will take jobs Americans don’t want, up from 33% in 2024. Meanwhile, 42% admit that immigrants in the U.S. illegally contribute to economic growth, while 32% of respondents say they enrich American culture and values. Moreover, 50% of Americans believe it’s a major risk that immigrants in the U.S. illegally will burden welfare and safety net programs.
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The Associated Press reported that studies have shown that immigrants who work in the country illegally pay local, state, and federal taxes and generally do not qualify for federal benefits.
Republicans less likely to want to lower legal immigration
Dig deeper:
Less than half of people believe the number of legal immigrants should stay as it is, roughly 25% said the number of legal immigrants in the U.S. should be lowered "a lot" or "a little."
According to the AP, roughly 3 in 10 Republicans now admit that legal immigration should be lowered, down from 45% in January.
About 3 in 10 people believe the number of legal immigrants to the U.S. should be increased "a lot" or "a little," which rose from January, when 24% of people said they wanted an increase in legal immigration.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, which surveyed 1,183 people between Sept. 11-15, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.