Immigration News Today: Support for Increased US Immigration Levels Increases

By Michael Oleaga Aug 12 2015, 11:19 AM EDT

Support for increased immigration levels into the U.S. has increased, based on new polling data.

Gallup's Minority Rights and Relations survey, which included an oversampling of Latinos and blacks, looked into the opinions of minority groups who are often "too small for statistical analysis" in a standard poll. Taking into account other races, most respondents said U.S. immigration levels should be kept the same as existing levels, which accounted for 40 percent of responses. Not far behind with 34 percent, respondents said immigration levels should decrease. With 25 percent, respondents said immigration levels should increase.

Although the support for increased immigration ranked third, it is an increase from previous Gallup data. In comparison to June 2002 data, support for increased immigration more than doubled from 12 percent to currently 25 percent.

"The longer-term trends since 2001 are unmistakable: U.S. adults' support for increased immigration is gradually growing," noted Gallup's Andrew Dugan. "In surveys conducted within a year of the 9/11 attacks, which were perpetrated by 19 individuals who immigrated into the country, near-majorities or outright majorities of U.S. adults said immigration levels should be decreased. But as the 2000s came to a close and the current decade has unfolded, support for decreasing immigration has gradually fallen, hitting one of its lowest levels this year."

According to Gallup, Latinos are more than likely to prefer an immigration increase. When split into three groups, Latinos were found more likely to say immigration levels should be increased led, with 36 percent, followed by blacks with 30 percent. Non-Hispanic whites offered the least support for increased immigration levels, with 21 percent.

"Despite these differences, the overall trend is similar for all three groups. Support for allowing increased immigration levels hit a low ebb for all races/ethnicities in the years immediately after 9/11, and climbed to new or nearly new highs in 2015," added Dugan.

Gallup's Minority Rights and Relations survey comprised of 2,296 adults, over the age of 18, participating. Among the adults, 508 Latinos participated in the survey.

In Dugan's report, he noted more approximately half of the Latino respondents stated they were born in the U.S. Regardless of birth location, Latinos, overall, held similar views on immigration levels. Most U.S.-born Latinos want immigration levels increased, with 39 percent, while 34 percent prefer existing levels. With 26 percent, U.S.-born Latinos want immigration levels decreased.

For foreign-born Latinos, most, narrowly, called for a increased levels. While 33 percent of foreign-born Latinos prefer increased levels, 31 percent want immigration levels decreased and kept at existing levels.

Overall, regardless of ethnicity, 73 percent of respondents said immigration is a positive for the U.S., compared to 24 percent stating it is a "bad thing." In comparison to 2002 survey results, only 52 percent of respondents said immigration was a positive for the country.

The Gallup survey was conducted between June 15 and July 10.

Be part of the conversation and provide your opinion on this topic for Latin Post's "¿Que Dices?" series. Email your video or written response to opinion@latinpost.com and it may be shared in future "¿Que Dices?" content.