In November, Americans will decide between Donald Trump and Joe Biden for the next US President. The election will hinge not only on the candidates themselves but also on critical issues facing the American populace and the candidates' proposed solutions. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center sheds light on the views of US voters aligned with Biden and Trump on various issues, including immigration.
According to the survey, 59% of US voters favour granting American citizenship to immigrants. However, there has been an increase in those advocating for the deportation of undocumented immigrants, rising from 26% in 2021 to 37% currently.
While Biden has pledged to grant citizenship to spouses of American citizens, Trump has vowed to execute "the largest deportation operation in American history."
This stark contrast underscores the pivotal role immigration plays in US elections, encompassing debates on deportation, acceptance of non-English speakers, and broader national identity issues. Recently, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey querying Americans about their "immigration attitudes."
IMMIGRATION ATTITUDES: A CENTRAL ISSUE IN US ELECTIONS
Supporters of Joe Biden and those backing Donald Trump exhibit distinct perspectives on immigration, reflecting longstanding partisan divisions between Democrats and Republicans, as well as recent rifts over the US-Mexico border.
They also differ significantly on whether the US being open to immigrants from worldwide locations is fundamental to national identity, and on the acceptance of individuals who do not primarily speak English.
Nearly six in ten registered voters (59%) expressed support for undocumented immigrants having an opportunity to attain US citizenship, as per the Pew survey. Within this group, 36% believe immigrants should be eligible to apply for citizenship, while an additional 22% believe they should at least be able to apply for permanent residency.
Around four in ten voters (41%) oppose allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the country. Of these, over 37% advocate for the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
DEPORTATION FROM US: TRUMP VOTERS VS BIDEN VOTERS
Deportation is a contentious issue in the US, with approximately 63% of Trump supporters favoring the deportation of these immigrants, compared to only 11% of Biden voters.
A substantial majority (85%) of Biden supporters oppose immigrant deportations, with 56% advocating for a pathway for immigrants to achieve citizenship.
In contrast, only 32% of Trump supporters believe immigrants should have legal status, and 15% support a pathway to citizenship for them.
Although many Americans believe immigrants should remain in the US, these numbers have declined since 2020, when 74% expressed such sentiments.
Among Republican voters, about 66% believe immigrants should not stay in the US, marking an increase from 54% in April 2021 and 42% in 2020.
INCREASED SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANT DEPORTATION
There is growing concern about immigrants consuming American resources, reflected in increased support for their deportation, rising from 26% in 2021 to 37% currently.
A majority (63%) of Republican voters advocate for the deportation of illegal immigrants, up from 49% in 2021.
Interestingly, among Trump voters, 46% of Hispanics express support for allowing immigrants to remain in the US.
Another significant division between Biden and Trump supporters lies in their attitudes towards hearing "other languages in public places." Approximately 69% of Trump supporters under 50 years of age are comfortable hearing languages other than English in their communities.
Conversely, among Biden supporters, 92% of those under 50 and 76% of those over 50 share this comfort in listening to languages other than English.
These contrasting views underscore the complex landscape of immigration issues in the upcoming US elections and the divergent perspectives shaping voter attitudes and policy discussions.
