Per a recent Gallup Poll, Americans are divided on the optimal level of immigration. One-third of Americans believe immigration levels should be increased. Thirty-one percent believe immigration levels should be decreased. Thirty-five percent believe current levels should be maintained. This is in line with the previous year’s poll. However, support for immigration has grown slowly since the early 2000s.

Post 9/11, 42% of Americans agreed that immigration is not good for the country with 52% agreeing it is good for the country. However, since then, a steady increase in favorability has been reported. In the current survey, 75% of Americans believe immigration is good for the country. These results are from the June 1- July 5, 2021, Gallup survey.

Differences are seen across party lines and education levels. A higher percentage of Democrats believe immigration levels should be increased (50%) when compared to their Republican counterparts (10%). Gaps are also shown based on education level. Individuals with Post Graduate degrees believe an increase in immigration is good (50%). Fewer individuals with High School educations or less believe an increase is good for the country (25%).

Many U.S. businesses are struggling to fill open positions. The U.S. population has an increasingly aging population. The combination of these trends signals further difficulty for businesses and their staffing needs.

Congress has not yet been able to pass legislation to resolve immigration issues in a comprehensive fashion. This reflects the divided opinions of Americans, noted above, in terms of overall immigration levels.

If you have questions about any immigration-related topic or are looking for legal advice to help your company fill open positions with foreign workers, contact us at ILBSG. We work with you to ensure you get the right advice.

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