How Immigration and Concerns about Cultural Changes are Shaping the 16 Election Findings from the 16 PRRI/Brookings Immigration Survey Robert P. Jones, Ph.D. @robertpjones #ImmSurvey
PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONAL VULNERABILITY
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be a victim of terrorism? 14-16 Very/somewhat worried Not too/not at all worried 70 60 0 66 53 55 51 * 47 45 33 Nov-14 Feb-15 May-15 Aug-15 Nov-15 Feb-16 May-16 * Note: Figures may not add up to 0% due to rounding. Sources: PRRI 14 Post-election American Values Survey; PRRI/RNS December 15 Survey; PRRI/The Atlantic April 16 Survey; PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 3
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be a victim of terrorism? By party affiliation Very worried Somewhat worried Not too worried Not at all worried Don't know/refused All Americans 18 33 33 17 Trump supporter 24 41 26 8 Republican 42 29 8 Democrat 18 26 35 21 Independent 16 34 31 18 0 60 70 80 90 0 Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 4
Do you think the country s economic recession is over, or do you think the economy is still in a recession? 12-16 80 70 60 0 Recession is over Still in a recession 76 72 72 70 27 29 21 21 Sources: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, April 12; PRRI 14 American Values Survey; PRRI 15 American Values Survey; PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 5
CULTURAL PROTECTIONISM
The American way of life needs to be protected against foreign influence By party affiliation Completely agree Mostly agree Mostly disagree Completely disagree Don't know/refused All Americans 21 34 27 17 Trump supporter 45 38 13 4 Republican 35 39 19 6 Independent 19 35 15 Democrat 13 28 28 0 60 70 80 90 0 Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 7
It bothers me when I come in contact with immigrants who speak little or no English 0 90 80 70 60 0 By party affiliation Agree Disagree 77 66 64 49 49 33 35 23 All Americans Trump supporter Republican Independent Democrat Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 8
Today discrimination against whites has become as big a problem as discrimination against blacks and other minorities By party affiliation Agree Disagree Don't know/refused All Americans 49 49 Trump supporter 81 19 Republican 72 27 Independent 48 Democrat 32 68 0 60 70 80 90 0 Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 9
Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? By age America has always been and is currently a Christian nation America was a Christian nation in the past but not now America has never been a Christian nation Don't know/refused All Americans 41 42 15 Ages 18-29 32 43 24-49 38 43 16-64 46 43 65+ 49 39 9 0 60 70 80 90 0 Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey.
0 80 60 Growing Feeling Among White Evangelical Protestants that America Is No Longer a Christian Nation Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? 48 59 Don't know/refused America has never been a Christian nation America was a Christian nation in the past but not now 45 37 America has always been and is currently a Christian nation 0 12 16 Sources: PRRI/Brookings 12 Race, Class, and Culture Survey; PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 11
Perception Gap: How Much Are Immigrants Changing Your Own Community vs. American Society? Percent who say immigrants are changing their community/american society "a lot," by party affiliation Community American society 70 60 39 59 51 39 22 26 25 21 22 27 0 All Americans Trump supporter Republican Independent Democrat Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 12
IMMIGRATION POLICY
Cultural Protectionist Policies Percent who favor each policy, by party affiliation All Americans Trump supporter Republican Independent Democrat 0 90 80 70 60 0 78 82 77 66 66 64 44 43 41 28 Passing a law to prevent Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. Building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico 23 23 Temporarily banning Muslims from other countries from entering the U.S. Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 14
How should the immigration system deal with immigrants who are currently living in the U.S. illegally? By party affiliation Allow them a way to become citizens provided they meet certain requirements Allow them to become permanent legal residents, but not citizens Identify and deport them Don't know/refused All Americans 61 17 21 Democrat 72 15 11 Independent 62 16 21 Republican 49 22 29 Trump supporter 45 13 41 0 60 70 80 90 0 Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 15
Allowing Immigrants Living in Country Illegally to Become Citizens, 13-16 Percent who favor, by party affiliation 90 80 70 60 0 All Americans Republican Democrat 71 72 63 61 53 49 Sources: PRRI Surveys, 13-16. 16
ECONOMIC PROTECTIONISM
80 70 60 0 Are Free Trade Agreements Mostly Helpful or Harmful? 41 52 27 69 By party affiliation Mostly helpful because they open markets for U.S. companies and allow Americans to buy goods more cheaply Mostly harmful because they send jobs overseas and drive down wages 35 60 49 43 45 All Americans Trump supporter Republican Independent Democrat Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 18
Growing Support for Increasing the Tax Rate on Americans Earning More Than $2,000 a Year Percent who favor, by party affiliation 90 80 70 60 0 12 16 80 84 69 68 61 61 54 36 All Americans Republican Independent Democrat Sources: PRRI 12 American Values Survey; PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 19
LEADERSHIP AND THE 16 ELECTION
Is your overall opinion of Donald Trump favorable or unfavorable? By race/ethnicity 0 90 80 70 60 0 Favorable Unfavorable 86 91 69 63 36 28 8 All Americans White, non-hispanic Hispanic Black, non-hispanic Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 21
60 Favorability Gap Between Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton Percent with a favorable opinion, by gender Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton 56 55 49 38 0 Men Women Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 22
Because things have gotten so far off track in this country, we need a leader who is willing to break some rules if that s what it takes to set things right By party affiliation 80 70 60 0 Agree Disagree 72 57 57 49 48 51 42 41 28 All Americans Trump supporter Republican Independent Democrat Source: PRRI/Brookings 16 Immigration Survey. 23
Thank You How Immigration and Concerns about Cultural Changes are Shaping the 16 Election can be accessed online at prri.org/reports @PRRIpoll