In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,008 American adults, more than a third of respondents (36%) support the notion of allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States and eventually apply for citizenship, while a comparable number (38%) think they should be required to leave their jobs and be deported.

About one-in-five Americans (17%) would agree to allow illegal immigrants to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis, but without an opportunity to become citizens.

Since May 2010, the proportion of Americans who support the idea of the “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants has increased by nine points, while the call for the deportation of illegal immigrants has dropped by 12 points.

Most respondents (54%) agree with U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent decision to stop deporting and begin granting work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have not broken the law.

Half of respondents (51%, -16 since May 2010) think immigration is having a negative effect in the United States.

A majority of Americans (54%) think the illegal immigrants who reside in the U.S. take jobs away from American workers, and two-in-five (39%) believe the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in the U.S. should decrease.

Republicans continue to take a tougher stance on immigration than Democrats and Independents. Practically seven-in-ten GOP voters (69%) say that immigration is having a negative effect, two thirds (67%) think illegal immigrants take jobs away from American workers, three-in-five (62%) oppose President Obama’s decision, and half (50%) call for the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From December 19 to December 20, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,008 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,505 Australian adults, 45 per cent of respondents believe immigration is having a negative effect in Australia, while 35 per cent think it is having a positive effect.

Just under one-in-five Australians (18%) believe the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Australia should increase, while 35 per cent want the level to remain the same, and 40 per cent believe the country should take in fewer legal immigrants.

The Government has proposed a policy, whereby asylum-seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat are sent to Malaysia in exchange for Australia taking in some of Malaysia’s refugees. The policy seeks to prevent people-smugglers from being able to promise asylum-seekers relocation to Australia. Australians are evenly divided when assessing this idea, with 44 per cent saying they agree with it, and 44 per cent voicing disagreement.

The Government’s plan to increase its aid and assistance to Indonesia as part of an effort to curb asylum-seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat is also polarising, with 45 per cent showing some support for this plan, and 45 per cent opposing it. Younger Australians, aged 18-to-34, are more likely to endorse the plan to increase aid and assistance to Indonesia (51%). The majority of those over the age of 55 (57%) oppose the proposal.

Compared to the views outlined by respondents to Angus Reid Public Opinion polls conducted recently, Australians are slightly more likely than Canadians to say that immigration is having a negative effect in their country—and well below the majority of respondents in the United States and Britain who believe this to be the case.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Peter Harris, Managing Director, Vision Critical AUS/NZ
+02 9256 2001
peter.harris@visioncritical.com

Methodology: From July 6 to July 8, 2012, Vision Critical Australia conducted an online survey among 1,505 randomly selected Australian adults who are Nine Rewards panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.5%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Australia. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,002 American adults, 47 per cent of respondents agree with Obama’s decision to stop deporting and begin granting work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have not broken the law. A similar proportion of Americans (45%) disagrees with the president’s course of action.

Respondents in the Northeast (50%) are more likely to agree with the President’s decision, while people in the South and West are divided. Democrats (70%) are more likely to side with Obama on this topic, while most Republicans (64%) reject his pronouncement. Independents are evenly split (46% agree; 46% disagree).

Arizona v. United States

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the legality of an immigration law that was enacted in Arizona. A majority of Americans agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down three provisions of the Arizona law: making it a state crime for “unauthorized immigrants” to fail to carry registration papers and other government identification (58%), forbidding those not authorized for employment in the United States to apply, solicit or perform work (54%), and authorizing police to arrest illegal immigrants without warrant where “probable cause” exists that they committed any public offense making them removable from the country (53%).

In addition, three-in-four respondents (75%) agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the provision in the Arizona law that lets police check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws if “reasonable suspicion” exists that the person is in the United States illegally.

Across the county, 45 per cent of respondents believe the federal government is better suited to establish immigration directives in the United States, while 38 per cent believe state governments are better qualified.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From July 13 to July 15, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,002 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,005 American adults also shows that respondents express more confidence in President Barack Obama to handle the immigration file than on prospective Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Across the United States, more than half of respondents (54%) believe immigration is having a negative effect in the U.S., while one-in-four (25%) think it is having a positive effect.

In addition, two-in-five Americans (39%) would like to see the level of legal immigration decrease. Republicans are more likely to regard immigration negatively (66%) and to call for a reduction in the number of legal immigrants (45%).

More than half of Americans (54%) believe the more than 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States take jobs away from American workers, a view shared by 65 per cent of Republicans, 54 per cent of Independents and 46 per cent of Democrats.

When asked about what should be done about the status of illegal immigrants who are currently working in the United States, 41 per cent of Americans call for deportation, while 33 per cent back a “path to citizenship” and 16 per cent support the concept of a temporary work visa that would not lead to citizenship. Deportation is the preferred option for Republicans (56%) and Independents (40%), while almost half of Democrats (48%) endorse the “path to citizenship.”

Since May 2010, support for the notion of allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship has increased by eight points (from 25% to 33%). However, at least two-in-five Americans have consistently argued that all illegal immigrants should be sent back to their countries of origin. The option that has lost the most ground with respondents is the temporary work visa, falling from 21 per cent in 2010 to 16 per cent this year.

Almost half of Americans (47%) express complete or moderate confidence in Barack Obama to implement the right policies to deal with the issue of immigration. The national rating for Mitt Romney on this file is considerably lower (29%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From April 5 to April 6, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,005 Canadian adults, 39 per cent of respondents believe that immigration is having a positive effect in Canada, while 39 per cent think it is having a negative effect.

Views on Legal and Illegal Immigration

Since September 2010, the proportion of Canadians who think immigration is having a positive effect in the country has increased by five points. Respondents aged 18-to-34 are more likely to regard immigration in a positive light (48%) than middle-aged Canadians (33%) and those over the age of 55 (39%).

Two-in-five Canadians (41%) think the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Canada should decrease, including almost half of respondents aged 35-to-54 (46%).

The views of Canadians on illegal immigration have hardened over the past 14 months. Half of respondents (50%, +6 since September 2010) believe illegal immigrants in Canada take jobs away from Canadian workers. In addition, only 23 per cent of respondents would allow illegal immigrants to stay in Canada and eventually apply for citizenship, while 50 per cent think illegal immigrants should be required to leave their jobs and be deported.

Multiculturalism

Three-in-five Canadians (62%) think multiculturalism has been good for the country, including 72 per cent of respondents aged 18-to-34. However, more Canadians (58%) are likely to endorse the concept of the melting pot—immigrants assimilating and blending into Canadian society—than the mosaic (30%), where cultural differences within society are valuable and should be preserved.

At least one-in-four respondents believe Canada is an intolerant society towards Muslims (33%), Aboriginal Canadians (28%) and immigrants from South Asia, such as India and Pakistan (25%). A third of Canadians (32%) believe that racism is a significant problem in Canada, while 55 per cent disagree with this view.

Analysis

The proportion of Canadians who believe immigration is having a negative effect in the country is the lowest in the past four years. The main source of hostility appears to be illegal immigration, with half of Canadians calling for unlawful workers to return to their country of origin. This level of support for the deportation of illegal immigrants is 11 points lower than what was observed in Britain in December 2011, but seven points higher than in the United States in December 2010.

Younger Canadians are more likely to back the idea of a “path to citizenship” for illegal workers, but sizeable majorities of middle-aged and older respondents reject this idea.

The positive views on multiculturalism drop markedly with age, from 72 per cent for those aged 18-to-34, to 63 per cent among those aged 35-to-54, and to 50 per cent for those over the age of 55. Middle-aged and older Canadians are also more likely to support the concept of the melting pot than the mosaic.

Review our September 2010 and November 2010 surveys on immigration and multiculturalism.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

Full Tables (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 26 to January 27, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,005 Americans, 57 per cent of respondents believe that immigration is having a negative effect in the U.S. This represents a ten-point drop since the question was last asked by Vision Critical/Angus Reid Public Opinion in July. However, all of the movement has been toward not sure (from 16% to 25%), driven mainly by Democrats and Independents. Four-in-five Republicans (80%) say immigration has a negative impact in this country.

Legal and Illegal Immigration

Two-in-five Americans (39%) think the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in the U.S. should decrease, while only 15 per cent favor an increase.

More than half of respondents (56%) believe the illegal immigrants in the United States take jobs away from American workers, while one third (34%) think these illegal immigrants are employed in jobs that American workers do not want. Large majorities of Republicans (74%) and Independents (60%) believe illegal immigrants take jobs away from American workers, but only 42 per cent of Democrats concur.

When asked about the status of illegal immigrants who are currently working in the United States, a tempering of opinion is also observed. Three-in-ten respondents (31%, +4 since July) believe that these illegal immigrants should be allowed to eventually apply for citizenship—the highest level of support for this policy throughout 2010. Two-in-five Americans (43%, -7) believe illegal immigrants should be required to leave their jobs and be deported.

While Democrats (48%) remain more likely than Republicans (13%) and Independents (31%) to support a “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants who are working in the U.S., no party can count on majority support to implement this policy in the current political environment.

In a finding that has remained consistent since the summer, many Americans continue to express support for the implementation of the four primary policy provisions of the Arizona law in their own state. However, there is a marked decrease in the proportion of respondents who endorse arresting people who are unable to provide documentation to prove they are in the U.S. legally (from 69% in July to 62% this month).

Analysis

Immigration remains a passionate emotional and policy issue in the melting pot that is America, and most Americans in all walks of life hold some negative feelings about it. While opinion remains divided along party lines, the idea of a “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants has no majority support. Still, other provisions of immigration policy reform could be in play in 2011, along with a now larger swing voter group waiting to hear all sides of the debate.

Our previous surveys on immigration can be found here: April 2010 / May 2010 / July 2010

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

Methodology: From December 16 to December 17, 2010, Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 1,005 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States.

The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,006 Canadian adults also found that at least three-in-ten respondents believe that Canadian society is intolerant towards Muslims, and Aboriginal Canadians.

Multiculturalism

Across the country, 55 per cent of respondents think multiculturalism has been good for Canada, while 30 per cent believe the policy has been bad. British Columbians (65%) express the highest level of admiration for multiculturalism, while Quebecers (49%) are at the bottom end.

Two-thirds of respondents aged 18-34 (65%) think multiculturalism has been good for Canada, but only 45 per cent of people over the age of 55 concur.

Mosaic or Melting Pot?

For decades, the concept of the mosaic—where cultural differences within society are deemed valuable and regarded as something that should be preserved—has been used to establish a difference between Canada and the United States. Americans consistently refer to their country as a melting pot, where immigrants assimilate and blend into society.

More than half of respondents (54%) believe Canada should be a melting pot, while one third of Canadians (33%) endorse the concept of the mosaic. The melting pot is particularly attractive for Quebecers (64%), Albertans (60%) and respondents over the age of 55. The mosaic gets its best marks among British Columbians (42%) and respondents aged 18 to 34 (47%).

A Tolerant Society?

Respondents across the country were asked whether Canada is tolerant or intolerant towards nine different groups. One third of respondents (33%) think Canadian society is intolerant towards Muslims, three-in-ten (30%) say it is intolerant towards Aboriginal Canadians, and one-in-four (24%) believe it is intolerant towards immigrants from South Asia.

Significantly fewer people believe Canadian society is intolerant towards gays and lesbians (16%), people with disabilities (15%), and immigrants from Africa (16%), Asia (10%), Latin America (7%) and Europe (4%).

Analysis

Most Canadians are not ready to claim—as German Chancellor Angela Merkel did earlier this year when assessing her own country—that multiculturalism has failed. However, the mosaic is no longer the predominant concept across Canada. A majority of respondents appear to be growing fond of the melting pot.

While a majority of respondents believe that Canadian society is tolerant towards most groups, there are some striking differences. Immigrants from Latin America and Europe are seen as groups that face acceptance practically all the time, which is something that cannot be said about Muslims, Aboriginal Canadians and Immigrants from South Asia.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From November 2 to November 3, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,006 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

More Canadians are questioning whether immigration is benefitting the country, with Albertans and Ontarians voicing concern over the role of illegal immigrants in Canadian society, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of a representative sample of 1,007 Canadian adults also found that half of respondents would not allow the Tamil migrants who arrived in Canada a few weeks ago to stay in the country as refugees.

Overall, 46 per cent of respondents (+5 since August 2009) say immigration is having a negative effect in Canada, while 34 per cent (-3) believe it is having a positive effect. Albertans (56%) and Ontarians (55%) are more likely to view immigration in a negative light than respondents in all other provinces.

Legal and Illegal Immigration

About two-in-five Canadians (38%) believe the number of legal immigrants who are allowed to relocate in Canada should decrease. A similar proportion (39%) would keep the current levels, and 16 per cent call for more immigrants to be allowed into Canada. Ontario (42%) and Quebec (40%) hold the highest level of support for decreasing legal immigration.

A plurality of respondents (44%) think the illegal immigrants who currently reside in Canada take jobs away from Canadian workers, while a smaller proportion (38%) believe they are employed in jobs that Canadian workers do not want. More than half of Ontarians (52%) think illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from Canadians.

Almost half of Canadians (47%) believe illegal immigrants should be required to leave their jobs and be deported from Canada, while 23 per cent would allow them to stay in Canada and eventually apply for citizenship. Almost one-in-five (17%) would allow these illegal immigrants to work in Canada on a temporary basis, but would not give them a chance to become citizens.

Ontarians (53%) and Albertans (52%) hold the highest level of support for the deportation of illegal immigrants, while British Columbians are at the other end of the spectrum on this question (39%).

The Tamil Ship

There has been little change in the way Canadians feel about the ship carrying about 490 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka that arrived in British Columbia a few weeks ago. Half of respondents (50%) think the passengers and crew should be deported to their country of origin, even if the refugee claims are legitimate and there is no discernible link between the migrants and any terrorist organization. One third of Canadians (32%) would allow the passengers and crew to stay in Canada as refugees.

Analysis

On questions related to immigration, the views of Canadians appear to be hardening. Alberta, which was particularly unconvinced on the benefits of immigration in the August 2009 survey, has now been joined by Ontario. The two provinces are home to a population that is perceiving immigration negatively, and where a majority calls for the deportation of illegal immigrants. Ontarians also reject the claim that illegal immigrants are simply performing the tasks that Canadians don’t want to carry out.

Quebecers still see some benefits to immigration, and are more likely than all other Canadians to assume that illegal immigrants are not taking jobs away from Canadian workers. Still, Quebecers choose a decrease in legal immigration over an increase by a 4-to-1 margin.

British Columbia holds the highest proportion of respondents that regard immigration in a positive light. BC is also the only province where a plurality would allow the Tamil migrants to stay as refugees.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF) 

On Aug. 12, the MV Sun Sea—a ship carrying about 490 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka—arrived in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The ship’s passengers and crew are currently undergoing medical and identification checks to determine the legitimacy of their refugee claims.

On Aug. 13, Canadian public safety minister Vic Toews said he considers the MV Sun Sea a "test boat", adding, "This particular situation is being observed by others who may have similar intentions and I think it’s very important that Canada deals with the situation in a clear and decisive way. I don’t view this as an isolated, independent act."

On Aug. 18, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed the situation, saying, "I think Canadians are pretty concerned, when a whole boat of people comes, not through any normal application process, not through any normal arrival channel, and just simply lands. And obviously this leads to significant security concerns."

Polling Data

The ship’s passengers and crew are currently undergoing medical and identification checks to determine the legitimacy of their refugee claims. If the refugee claims are legitimate, and there is no discernible link between the migrants and any terrorist organization, which of these courses of action would you prefer?

Complete Poll (PDF)

Many Canadians are paying attention to the developing story related to the arrival of Tamil refugee claimants from Sri Lanka, and a large majority expect more ships carrying migrants to attempt to reach Canadian waters in the next few months, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of a representative sample of 1,019 Canadian adults also finds that a large proportion of respondents believe that the ship should have been turned back and not allowed to reach Canada.

The Story

A ship carrying about 490 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka arrived in British Columbia last week. The ship’s passengers and crew are currently undergoing medical and identification checks to determine the legitimacy of their refugee claims.

More than half of Canadians (64%) are following this story in the media “very closely” or “moderately closely”, including 72 per cent of respondents in British Columbia.

Three-in-five Canadians (63%) believe that the ship carrying the Tamil migrants should have been turned back and not allowed to reach Canada. In addition, four-in-five respondents (83%) think the migrants aboard this ship are jumping the immigration queue and should apply like any other foreigner who wants to relocate to Canada.

What to do?

Respondents were asked to choose a specific course of action if the refugee claims from the Tamil migrants are legitimate, and there is no discernible link between them and any terrorist organization.

Almost half of Canadians (48%) would deport the passengers and crew to their country of origin, while one third (35%) would allow them to stay in Canada as refugees.

While British Columbians and Atlantic Canadians are almost evenly divided in their assessment of this case, 53 per cent of Ontarians and Albertans are in favour of deporting the migrants.

Some people have said that this ship was a “test boat” intended to gauge the response of the federal government. Seven-in-ten Canadians (72%) expect more ships carrying migrants to attempt to reach Canadian waters in the next few months.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
+416 712 5498
jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 17 to August 18, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,019 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.