Poll Proves Americans’ Real Attitudes Toward Mass Illegal Immigration
(TargetLiberty.org) – Historically speaking, waves of immigrants coming to America have faced some measure of hostility. It’s not that the US isn’t a welcoming country, it is, but because people fear the unknown. After the initial growing pains, the groups of immigrants usually blend in and everything is fine.
That said, Americans are particularly concerned about the latest wave of immigrants. For decades, immigrants from south of the US-Mexico border have been flowing into the country. Since President Joe Biden took office, the problem has gotten much worse. The constant flow of new migrants has US workers incredibly concerned in a way that differs from the past influxes of immigrants from Europe.
Americans Express Concern
A massive poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed Americans are concerned about jobs as immigrants flow across the border. The “10th Anniversary Immigration Study” interviewed more than 4,000 people. It found only 26% of respondents thought illegal immigration didn’t pose a risk to the US labor market. About 73% believe their job prospects are hurt by illegal immigration. At a time of record inflation, that’s particularly hard on families.
A study by the Center for Immigration Studies found immigration increases have potentially reduced wages by 8.75%.
Bipartisan Agreement
Democrats often paint the GOP as xenophobic because of its focus on the immigration crisis. However, the Republican Party has repeatedly shown a willingness to help immigrants who have decided to make the US their home. In 1986, it was the late President Ronald Reagan who signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act which granted amnesty to millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States before January 1, 1982.
In 2006, former President George W. Bush pushed legislators to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The conservative president, whose father George HW Bush was Reagan’s vice president, acknowledged the immigration system in America was broken and he wanted to fix it. He took a lot of heat from Democrats as well as members of his own party. While his push for reform failed, it highlighted the need.
During former President Donald Trump’s presidency, he also said he wanted immigration control but it had to come with stricter border policies to prevent migrants from entering America illegally. Democrats were too busy attacking him to ever take him seriously.
There’s a desire on both sides of the aisle to come together on the issue, but it hasn’t happened yet. While lawmakers refuse to act, Americans are growing more concerned about their own futures.
How do you feel about the rise in immigration?
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