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Public Opinion on Immigration a Rare Point of National Consensus in a Divided Electorate

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Latest Family Separation Report a Reminder that Broad Majority of Americans Sharply Reject Trump’s Nativism

See Related Data from American Election Eve Poll at: https://electioneve2020.com/

 

Jacob Soboroff and Julia Ainsley of NBC continue to report on horrifying new details related to family separation. The total number of separated children whose parents’ whereabouts are unknown has risen to 666. It’s more evidence that the moral stain of family separations may be with us forever.

In the 2020 race, family separation and Trump’s overall cruelty toward immigrants and refugees hurt Trump. The American Election Eve Poll (AEEP), a massive poll of over 15,000 voters from all backgrounds, found that Americans are strongly pro-immigrant, overwhelmingly rejecting family separation and overwhelmingly supporting pro-immigrant policies, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. 

Similarly, election day polling from the Republican research firm Public Opinion Strategies, conducted for FWD.us, found that voters opposed the Trump family separation policy and said that Trump’s immigration positions made them less likely to vote for him.

Key Immigration Findings from the American Election Eve Poll (AEEP)

Q: Which immigration statement do you agree with most: 

“Our immigration policy should focus on enforcement and border security first, including deporting those here illegally, cracking down on abuse of our asylum laws, and finishing the border wall,” OR “Our immigration policy should focus on creating a humane system that is fair to all, including stopping the separation of children from their parents, establishing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who work and live here, and creating new laws to ensure there is a fair process for people to legally enter the country.” 

Answers below are ‘fair and humane system’ vs. ‘enforcement and border security first:’

  • Latinos: 79-19%
  • African Americans: 82-17%
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: 69-26% 
  • American Indians: 68-31%
  • Whites: 55-44% 

Q: We should end the policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the border. Yes/No:

  • Latinos: 87-11% 
  • African Americans: 90-10% 
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: 81-15%
  • American Indians: 79-20%
  • Whites: 78-21% 

Q: We should establish a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who come forward, are up to date on their taxes, and pass a background check. Yes/No:

  • Latinos: 90-9% 
  • African Americans: 90-9% 
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: 81-14% 
  • American Indians: 85-15% 
  • Whites: 81-19% 

Q: We should reward undocumented immigrants who have risked their lives as essential workers during the pandemic with the opportunity to apply for citizenship in America. Yes/No:

  • Latinos: 83-16%
  • African Americans: 84-15% 
  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: 75-21%
  • American Indians: 70-29%
  • Whites: 63-36%

According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: “Nativism is the original sin of Trumpism. Immigration is the Trump administration’s signature issue. And it’s increasingly clear that support for immigrants and refugees are at an all-time high and Trump’s cynical exploitation of nativism did not work very will. Even during an era when our nation is divided and polarized, there is strong support for immigrants and refugees. Trump’s nativism forced the American people to choose. They have. They have come down on the side of fair and generous immigration policies and a more welcoming America.”

About the American Election Eve Poll

The 2020 American Election Eve Poll surveyed over 15,000 voters of all backgrounds. The poll oversamples of Latino/Latinx, African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and rural voters, and includes a robust poll of White Americans. The state-specific samples are large enough to draw conclusions for Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

The interactive website https://electioneve2020.com/ enablers users to access the full array of poll data.