NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Immigration Survey HARVARD UNIVERSITY JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School

Immigration Survey

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

JOHN F. KENNEDYSCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

The public’s views on immigration are significantly

less negative than they were in the months after the 9/11

terrorist attacks.

Should legal immigration be kept at its present level, increased, or decreased?

50%59%

48%

41%

35%29%

37% 37%

9%9%8%

18%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Oct-96* Dec-01* Jul-03* Aug-04**

Decreased

Kept at present level

Increased

Source: *CBS News/New York Times Polls;**NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Immigration Survey (5/27-8/4/04)

Percent of native-born Americans saying legal/illegal immigration has helped or hurt the U.S. economy

26%

31%

38%

59%

23%

14%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Legalimmigration

Illegalimmigration

Helped theU.S. economy

Had noimpact

Hurt the U.S.economy

Source: NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Immigration Survey (5/27-8/4/04)

Those who think most recent immigrants are in the U.S. illegally have more negative views of immigration and immigrants.

Differences between those who think most immigrants are in the U.S. illegally vs. legally

40%

35%

43%

47%

54%

59%

71%

73%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Immigrants take jobs fromAmericans

Immigrants burden the country

Immigrants do not pay fairshare of taxes

Federal government not toughenough on imigration

Those who think most immigrants are ILLEGALThose who think most immigrants are LEGAL


Although attitudes are less negative than they have been in years, many negative attitudes toward immigration persist.

Has recent immigration been good or bad for the country, or hasn’t it made much of a difference?

39%

28%

30%

43%

28%

25%

16%

22%

56%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Total Non-immigrants

Immigrants

GoodNot much differenceBad


Percent of native-born Americans who say…

12%

15%

51%

0% 20% 40% 60%

They or a family member lost ajob to an immigrant

They or a family member did notget a job because it was given to

an immigrant instead

Recent immigrants take jobs awayfrom Americans who want them


Americans express ambivalence, if not downright

unease, about the cultural impact of immigration.

Immigrants and non-immigrants agree about what kind of country the U.S. is…


64%

34%

61%

36%

0% 25% 50% 75%

A country made up of manycultures and values that change as

new people come here

A country with a basic Americanculture and values that

immigrants take on when theycome here

ImmigrantsNon-immigrantsPercent who say the U.S. is:


…But they disagree about what kind of country the U.S. should be

Percent who say the U.S. should be:

33%

62%

57%

39%

0% 25% 50% 75%

A country made up of manycultures and values that change as

new people come here

A country with a basic Americanculture and values that

immigrants take on when theycome here

ImmigrantsNon-immigrants

Generally, native-born Americans with higher levels of contact with immigrants have

more positive views of immigrants and immigration than those with less contact.

Percent who agree:Percent who agree:

Non-Non-Immigrant Immigrant

TotalTotal

Personal Personal contact contact

w/immigrantsw/immigrants

Immigrants Immigrants in state in state

populationpopulation

HighHigh LowLow HighHigh LowLow

Recent immigration bad for U.S.Recent immigration bad for U.S. 43%43% 32%32% 51%51% 37%37% 47%47%

Recent immigrants take jobs Recent immigrants take jobs 5151 3737 5959 4646 5656

Recent immigrants do not pay Recent immigrants do not pay their fair share of taxestheir fair share of taxes

6262 5656 6868 5858 6666

Immigrants burden U.S.Immigrants burden U.S. 5252 3737 6262 4646 5757

Government not tough enough Government not tough enough 6666 5959 7272 6363 6969

Recent immigrants are unfairly Recent immigrants are unfairly discriminated againstdiscriminated against

4040 5050 2929 4646 3737

Differing views among non-immigrants by level of contact with immigrants


The public is concerned about illegal immigration and wants the government to crack down.

Concerns about illegal immigration and support for government action

34%

26%

48%

55%

66%

72%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Government should spend more toprevent illegal immigration

Federal government isn't toughenough on immigration

Very or somewhat concernedabout illegal immigration

Non-immigrantsImmigrants


Percent saying they are concerned about illegal immigration because…

Non-Non-ImmigrantsImmigrants ImmigrantsImmigrants

Providing schools and health care to illegal Providing schools and health care to illegal immigrants cost taxpayers too much moneyimmigrants cost taxpayers too much money

63%63% 33%33%

Too many people are coming into our countryToo many people are coming into our country 5959 3333

Increases the likelihood of terrorism in the U.S.Increases the likelihood of terrorism in the U.S. 5656 2929

Illegal immigration has become dangerous and Illegal immigration has become dangerous and people have died trying to enter the U.S.people have died trying to enter the U.S.

5555 4343

Wrong kinds of people coming into our countryWrong kinds of people coming into our country 5454 3535

Illegal immigrants take jobs awayIllegal immigrants take jobs away 4545 1818

Not concerned about illegal immigrationNot concerned about illegal immigration 2828 5151


Immigration is not a particularly partisan issue, and the president’s proposal to deal

with it draws stronger opposition than support.

Democrats and Republicans have similar attitudes towards immigration

40%

43%

52%

59%

42%

41%

49%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Legal immigration should bedecreased

Recent immigration has beenbad for the country

Immigrants today are a burdenon the country

Recent illegal immigration hashurt the economy

DemocratsRepublicans


Opinions about President Bush’s immigration proposal

52%44%

4%


44% favor Bush plan

52% oppose Bush plan

Don’t know

Opposition to Bush plan is stronger than support

16%

38%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Oppose plan andwould be upset if itgoes into effect

Favor plan andwould be upset if itdoes not go intoeffect


Immigrants’ views differ from those of non-immigrants.

Percent who agree:Percent who agree: ImmigrantsImmigrantsNon-Non-

ImmigrantsImmigrants

Immigrants strengthen U.S. because of hard Immigrants strengthen U.S. because of hard work and talentswork and talents

81%81% 42%42%

Immigrants are more hard-working than other Immigrants are more hard-working than other AmericansAmericans

7171 4242

Recent immigrants unfairly discriminated againstRecent immigrants unfairly discriminated against 6161 4040

Recent immigration has been good for U.S.Recent immigration has been good for U.S. 5656 2525

Recent immigrants take jobs awayRecent immigrants take jobs away 1717 5151

Government not tough enough on immigrationGovernment not tough enough on immigration 2626 6666

Government should spend more to prevent Government should spend more to prevent illegal immigrationillegal immigration

3434 5555

Differing views between immigrants and non-immigrants


Immigrants keep some ties to their home country, though not

as much as some believe.

Percent of immigrants who say they…

30%

37%

41%

0% 25% 50% 75%

Want to move back to country oforigin some day

Regularly send money back tocountry of origin

Return to country of origin atleast every year or two


Percent of immigrants who say they…


58%

61%

33%

0% 25% 50% 75%

Do not want to move back tocountry of origin some day

Do not regularly send moneyback to country of origin

Have never been back to theircountry of origin

Immigrants like the economic opportunities in America, but some are ambivalent about the

culture.

Better in Better in U.S.U.S.

Better in Better in country you country you came fromcame from

About About the samethe same

Opportunities to get aheadOpportunities to get ahead 84%84% 5%5% 10%10%

Women’s legal rightsWomen’s legal rights 7171 77 1919

Treatment of poorTreatment of poor 6262 1717 1616

The schoolsThe schools 4747 3333 1515

Strength of the familyStrength of the family 2828 4747 2323

Safety from crimeSafety from crime 3434 1919 4343

Relations between different racesRelations between different races 3737 1717 4141

Moral values of societyMoral values of society 2828 2828 3838

Immigrants’ views of U.S. versus country of origin


Immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to say immigrants must believe in

God to really be part of American society.

Immigrants are more likely than non-immigrants to say one must believe in God to be part of American society…


47%

22%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Percent who sayimmigrants

must believe inGod to really be

part ofAmerican

society



…But immigrants themselves are no more religious than non-immigrants

84%

85%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Percent who sayreligion is at

least somewhatimportant in

their daily life


Mexicans and Central/South Americans differ markedly

from other immigrants in many respects.

Percent saying better in Percent saying better in U.S.:U.S.:

Mexican Mexican immigrantsimmigrants

Central/South Central/South American American

immigrantsimmigrantsAll other All other

immigrantsimmigrants

Opportunities to get Opportunities to get aheadahead

94%94% 89%89% 80%80%

Women’s legal rightsWomen’s legal rights 8383 7878 6565

Treatment of poorTreatment of poor 7676 6969 5454

The schoolsThe schools 6363 5454 3838

Strength of the familyStrength of the family 4242 2424 2222

Safety from crimeSafety from crime 4141 4444 2929

Percent of immigrants saying each is better in the U.S. than in their country of origin…


On most questions, children of immigrants have views more like native-born Americans. There are a few differences, which may come from their

close association with immigrants.

On most questions, children of immigrants have views like other native-born…

44%

52%

53%

72%

38%

46%

48%

70%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Recent immigration has been badfor the country

Recent immigrants take jobsaway from Americans

Immigrants today are a burdenon the country

Very or somewhat concernedabout illegal immigration

Children of immigrantsOther native-born


On a few questions, there are differences between children of immigrants and other native-born…

6%

8%

22%

40%

12%

17%

34%

59%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Federal government is too toughon immigration

Recent ILLEGAL immigrationhas been good for community

Recent LEGAL immigration hasbeen good for your community

Recent immigrants more hard-working than other Americans

Children of immigrantsOther native-born


Generation 1.5 immigrants (those who arrived in the U.S.

at age 10 or younger) have views closer to those of non-immigrants than to those of

immigrants who arrived after age 10.

Generation 1.5 immigrants compared with other immigrants and native-born

68%

20%

37%

68%

28%

66%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Most immigrants pay their fairshare of taxes

The federal government is nottough enough on immigration

Native-born AmericansImmigrants who arrived age 10 or younger (Generation 1.5)Immigrants who arrived after age 10


MethodsThe NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School The NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Immigration Survey Immigration Survey is part of a series of projects of is part of a series of projects of National Public Radio, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University’s National Public Radio, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Representatives of the three sponsors worked together Kennedy School of Government. Representatives of the three sponsors worked together to develop the survey questionnaire and to analyze the results, with NPR maintaining to develop the survey questionnaire and to analyze the results, with NPR maintaining sole editorial control over its broadcasts on the surveys. The project team includes:sole editorial control over its broadcasts on the surveys. The project team includes:

From NPR: From NPR: Marcus D. Rosenbaum, Senior Editor; Megan Meline, Assistant Editor.Marcus D. Rosenbaum, Senior Editor; Megan Meline, Assistant Editor.

From the Kaiser Family Foundation: From the Kaiser Family Foundation: Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Matt James, Senior Vice President of Media and Public Education and Officer; Matt James, Senior Vice President of Media and Public Education and Executive Director of kaisernetwork.org; Mollyann Brodie, Vice President, Director of Executive Director of kaisernetwork.org; Mollyann Brodie, Vice President, Director of Public Opinion and Media Research; and Elizabeth Hamel, Senior Research Associate.Public Opinion and Media Research; and Elizabeth Hamel, Senior Research Associate.

From the Kennedy School: From the Kennedy School: Robert J. Blendon, a Harvard University professor who Robert J. Blendon, a Harvard University professor who holds joint appointments in the School of Public Health and the Kennedy School of holds joint appointments in the School of Public Health and the Kennedy School of Government; Stephen R. Pelletier, Research Coordinator for the Harvard Opinion Government; Stephen R. Pelletier, Research Coordinator for the Harvard Opinion Research Program; John M. Benson, Managing Director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program; John M. Benson, Managing Director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program; and Elizabeth Mackie, Research Associate.Research Program; and Elizabeth Mackie, Research Associate.

Methods

The survey was conducted by telephone May 27 – August 2, 2004 among a The survey was conducted by telephone May 27 – August 2, 2004 among a nationally representative sample of 1888 respondents 18 years of age and nationally representative sample of 1888 respondents 18 years of age and older. A total of 1104 interviews were completed with non-immigrants, and a older. A total of 1104 interviews were completed with non-immigrants, and a total of 784 interviews were completed with immigrants. The fieldwork was total of 784 interviews were completed with immigrants. The fieldwork was conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, PA. conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, PA. The margin of sampling error (at a 95% confidence level) is +/-3 percentage The margin of sampling error (at a 95% confidence level) is +/-3 percentage points for the total population; +/-3 percentage points for non-immigrants; points for the total population; +/-3 percentage points for non-immigrants; and +/-5 percentage points for immigrants. For results based on subsets of and +/-5 percentage points for immigrants. For results based on subsets of respondents the margin of error is higher. Note that sampling error is only respondents the margin of error is higher. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll.poll.

Documents

NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Immigration Survey HARVARD UNIVERSITY JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT