Immigration Attitudes

Wide majorities in most of the 17 advanced economies surveyed say having people of many different backgrounds improves their society, but most also see conflicts between partisan, racial and ethnic groups.

The U.S. Muslim population has grown in the decades since 9/11, but views toward them have become increasingly polarized along political lines.

Republicans and Democrats continue to differ over the factors they see as important for being “truly American.”

Large ideological divides persist on views of tradition, national pride and discrimination, especially in the U.S.

Republican support for allowing undocumented immigrants to remain legally in the United States has declined.

Latinos agree that the U.S. immigration system needs an overhaul; large shares say it requires major changes or needs to be completely rebuilt.

The share of Americans viewing illegal immigration as a ‘very big’ problem has increased.

Focus groups held across the two nations reveal the degree to which Americans and Britons see common challenges to local and national identity.

91% of Democrats favor granting legal status to immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children; 54% of Republicans say the same.

Across the surveyed countries, opinion varies widely about the value of diversity. But interacting with people of different backgrounds is related to more positive attitudes about the role of diversity in society.