Rasmussen Reports Weekly Immigration Index - Week Ending October 1, 2020

The Rasmussen Reports Immigration Index for the week of September 27-October 1, 2020 rose to 103.2 from 102.2 the week before.

The Index is based on a series of questions designed to determine whether voters are moving toward an immigration system that encourages more immigration to the United States or a one that reduces the level of immigration here. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

All surveys are compared to a baseline – set the week of December 2-6, 2019 - which has been given an Index of 100. A weekly finding moving up over 100 indicates growing support for a more expansive immigration system. A weekly index number falling below 100 indicates increased support for a more restrictive immigration system.

The survey has been around or below 102 for four of the last six weeks.

Crosstabs, topline responses and historical data are also available to the public.

The Immigration Index will be updated every Tuesday at noon Eastern.

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In the latest survey, 38% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the government is doing too little to reduce illegal border crossings and visitor overstays. Thirty-one percent (31%) say the government is doing too much. Twenty-three percent (23%) rate the level of action as about right.

Sixty-four percent (64%) continue to believe the government should mandate employers to use the federal electronic E-Verify system to help ensure that they hire only legal workers for U.S. jobs. This finding has changed very little in months of weekly surveying. Only 21% disagree, with 14% undecided.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters favor giving lifetime work permits to most of the approximately two million illegal residents who came to this country when they were minors, with 35% who Strongly Favor it. Thirty-four percent (34%) are opposed, including 17% who are Strongly Opposed.

Just 46% also favor giving lifetime work permits to most of the estimated 12 million illegal residents of all ages who currently reside in the United States, including 23% who Strongly Favor it. Forty-six percent (46%) are also opposed, with 26% who are Strongly Opposed.

Legal immigration has averaged around a million annually in recent years, but 46% of voters believe the government should be adding no more than 750,000 new immigrants each year, with 31% who say it should be fewer than 500,000. Thirty-seven percent (37%) favor adding one million or more legal newcomers per year, including 12% who say the figure should be higher than 1.5 million. Seventeen percent (17%) are not sure. These findings, too, are little changed over the months.

Only 31% favor current U.S. immigration policy which allows legal immigrants to bring in not just their spouse and children but also eventually other adult relatives that can include extended family and their spouses’ families. Fifty-nine percent (59%) remain opposed to current policy and think legal immigrants should be able to bring only their spouse and children with them. Ten percent (10%) are undecided.

The Census Bureau projects that current immigration policies are responsible for most U.S. population growth and will add 75 million people over the next 40 years. Most voters still want to slow that growth. In terms of the effect on the overall quality of life in the United States, 36% want to continue immigration-driven population growth at the current levels. Forty-two percent (42%) favor slowing down immigration-driven population growth. Twelve percent (12%) want to have no such population growth at all, while 10% are not sure.

Forty-two percent (42%) believe immigration-driven population growth should be reduced to limit the expansion of cities into U.S. wildlife habitats and farmland. Just 27% disagree, but slightly more (30%) are undecided.