Minorities Differ on Immigration

While the general assumption is that minorities, particularly Hispanics, favor increased immigration and legalization for illegal immigrants, a new Zogby survey finds that minority voters’ views are more complex.

The poll of Hispanic, Asian-American and African-American likely voters finds some support for legalization. But overall, each of these groups prefers enforcement and for illegal immigrants to return home. Moreover, significant majorities of all three groups think that the current level of immigration is too high. These views are in sharp contrast to the leaders of most ethnic advocacy organizations, who argue for increased immigration and legalization of illegal immigrants.

The survey used neutral language, avoiding such terms as “amnesty,” “illegal alien” or “undocumented.” The poll shows the following:

In contrast to the leadership of many ethnic advocacy groups, most members of minority groups think immigration is too high.

• Hispanics: 56% said it is too high; 7% said too low; 14% said just right


• Asian-Americans: 57% said it is too high; 5% said too low; 18% said just right


• African-Americans: 68% said it is too high; 4% said too low; 14% said just right

Most members of minority groups do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration as many ethnic advocacy groups argue; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement.

• Hispanics: Just 20% said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 61% said inadequate enforcement


• Asian-Americans: 19% said not enough legal immigration; 69% said inadequate enforcement


• African-Americans: 16% said not enough legal immigration; 70% said inadequate enforcement

Most members of minority groups feel that there are plenty of Americans available to fill unskilled jobs.

• Hispanics: 15% said legal immigration should be increased to fill unskilled jobs; 65% said there are plenty of Americans available to do unskilled jobs, employers just need to pay more


• Asian-Americans: 19% said increase immigration; 65% said plenty of Americans are available


• African-Americans: 6% said increase immigration; 81% said plenty of Americans are available

When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants in the country to go home or offering them a pathway to citizenship with conditions, most members of minority groups choose enforcement.

• Hispanics: 52% support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 34 % support conditional legalization


• Asian-Americans: 57% support enforcement; 29% support conditional legalization


• African-Americans: 50% support enforcement; 30% support conditional legalization

Zogby International was commissioned by the Center for Immigration Studies to conduct this online survey.