Forty-one percent of Americans are satisfied with the current level of immigration into the country, a higher percentage than at any time since Gallup began tracking this issue in 2001.
Satisfaction with the immigration level has fluctuated over the past decade, declining through most of the George W. Bush administration to a low of 23% in 2008. It rose again after Barack Obama took office to its previous high of 38% in 2014, before it dipped again. Satisfaction with the immigration level rose 11 percentage points in the past year to reach the new high.
While Americans’ satisfaction with the immigration level is at a record high, a majority (53%) remain dissatisfied. Americans’ dissatisfaction on the issue is rooted mostly in the desire for less immigration into the country, as it has been consistently over time. A follow-up question asked of those dissatisfied with current immigration levels shows:
- 36% of U.S. adults are dissatisfied with immigration and want less of it.
- 5% are dissatisfied and want more of it.
- 12% are dissatisfied but want immigration levels to remain the same.
In the last year, the percentage dissatisfied and wanting less immigration fell from 43% to 36%.
These data are based on Gallup’s annual Mood of the Nation poll, conducted each January since 2001, except for 2009-2011. The most recent poll was conducted Jan. 4-8.
Via Gallup