What Voters Really Think About Immigration

Let's delve more deeply into the issue of immigration. 66% support comprehensive immigration reform. Down a little bit from the June wave, 71–29. Still about two thirds of the public that's behind that.

Of course, what does that really mean? Generally, comprehensive immigration reform means dealing with the issues of the people who are here and giving them work permits or a path to citizenship if they're responsible citizens.

And on the other hand, really closing the borders and getting a handle on the immigration system, and maybe getting rid of the lottery and making some other changes that make it more merit based.

So far we seem to be farther removed from a comprehensive immigration deal that at any point that I can remember, even as public support for it continues to be in the very solid majority.

So, more specifically, would you favor or oppose a deal between Congress and President Trump that gives undocumented immigrations brought here by their parents work permits and a path to citizenship in exchange for increasing merit preference over a preference for relatives? And then eliminating the diversity visa lottery and funding barrier security in the US–Mexico border. 62%, again, down a little bit from 66%. So a little bit of the consensus is cracking. 38% oppose.

It's more important to keep in place the current immigration system that gives preference to legal immigrants who have a relative in the United States, that's 48%.

Or should we changed to a merit based system that gives preference to legal immigrants based on skills and education? 52%. About the same as we came up with in June.

Do you think there's a growing humanitarian and security crisis at our border with Mexico, or is this mainly a manufactured political crisis ahead of the 2020 elections?

Remember when Democrats were out there with the talking point about manufactured political crisis. Well, at that time, most people were buying that it was a manufactured political crisis, but not anymore.

Today, 58% say it is a growing humanitarian and security crisis. This problem with immigration is seen at real, that's why it's the number one issue in the country today.

How many people do you think are caught trying to enter through the souther border each year? That number is actually as high as 100,000 a month. Very few people think that it's as high as that. Most people think it's 10,000 to 100,000 a year.

Last month, 100,000 people were intercepted. Do you favor or oppose the decision by the President to declare a national emergency?

Now, again, if I went back a few months, people roundly opposed the decision by President Trump to declare a national emergency. Not anymore. 52% favor declaring a national emergency, given that the numbers have reached where they are.

Are border barriers effective? 52% find them ineffective. 48% find them effective. This is about as polarizing issue as you get in the country. Why whether or not a fence is effective or not has become politically polarized. You believe it if you're a Republican and you disbelieve it if you're a Democrat. But that's what happened, partisanship and facts have commingled, so that this is probably a very important predictor question on whether someone is Democratic or Republican.

Should people fleeing general violence in a country be able to seek asylum here, or only political or religious violence aimed specifically at them? Again, close question. 52% say only those fleeing political or religious violence aimed at them.

Should the current asylum laws be loosened to accept more claims, tightened to accept fewer claims, or kept as is? Here there's a real consensus. 47% say tightened, 22% say loosened, 32% say kept as is. A substantial group of people, 47%, are looking for tightening of the system.

Interested in Learning More?

Harvard Harris Poll

Listen to More Episodes

Twitter