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Immigration levels, legal and illegal immigration, and immigrants.
| Question | Source | Years | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Should number of immigrants nowadays be increased or reduced Do you think the number of immigrants to America nowadays should be… | GSS | 2004–2024 | 11 |
| Immigration levels, three categories Do you think the number of immigrants from foreign countries who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot? | ANES | 1992–2024 | 11 |
| Immigration levels, six categories Do you think the number of immigrants from foreign countries who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be (1992,1994: increased a little, increased a lot, decreased a little, decreased a lot, or left the same as it is now?) (1996,1998: increased a lot, increased a little, decreased a little, decreased a lot, or left the same as it is now?) (2004,2008: increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot?) | ANES | 1992–2024 | 10 |
| Feeling thermometer: Illegal aliens Illegal aliens (2004-later: illegal immigrants) – thermometer | ANES | 1988–2024 | 9 |
| Plans to apply for U.S. citizenship Are you… | GSS | 2008–2022 | 7 |
| Likelihood immigration takes jobs from people here How likely is it that recent immigration levels will take jobs away from people already here– extremely likely, very likely, somewhat likely, or not at all likely? |
| ANES |
| 2004–2024 |
| 6 |
| Immigrants take jobs away from native-born Americans C. Immigrants take jobs away from people who were born in America | GSS | 1996–2024 | 5 |
| Immigrants increase crime rates A. Immigrants increase crime rates | GSS | 1996–2024 | 5 |
| Should number of immigrants nowadays be increased or reduced Do you think the number of immigrants to America nowadays should be… | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Immigrants are good for America's economy B. Immigrants are generally good for America's economy | GSS | 1996–2024 | 4 |
| Stronger measures to exclude illegal immigrants America should take stronger measures to exclude illegal immigrants. | GSS | 1996–2014 | 3 |
| Whether immigrants should keep or give up their culture Which of these statements about immigrants comes closest to your view: | GSS | 2014–2024 | 2 |
| Whether immigrants should adopt U.S. culture Do you think immigrants living in the U.S. should adopt U.S. culture, keep their own culture, or do both? | GSS | 2022–2024 | 2 |
| Immigration from Latin America should increase or decrease What about the number of immigrants from Latin America (that is, Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas)"should it be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot? | GSS | 2000–2024 | 2 |
| What to do about illegal immigrants already in the U.S. What should be done about immigrants who are currently living in the U.S. illegally? | GSS | 2022–2024 | 2 |
| Immigration from Asia should increase or decrease What about the number of immigrants from Asia? (Should it be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot?) | GSS | 2000–2024 | 2 |
| Plans for U.S. citizenship, with volunteered option Are you… | GSS | 2021–2022 | 2 |
| Plans for U.S. citizenship, no volunteered web option Are you… | GSS | 2021–2022 | 2 |
| Legal immigrants should have same rights as citizens E. Legal immigrants to America who are not citizens should have the same rights as American citizens. | GSS | 2004–2014 | 2 |
| Immigrants make America more open to new ideas and cultures D. Immigrants make America more open to new ideas and cultures | GSS | 1996–2014 | 2 |
| Should number of immigrants be increased or decreased Do you think the number of immigrants from foreign countries who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot? | GSS | 1994–2000 | 2 |
| Immigrants making it harder to keep the country united C. Making it harder to keep the country united. | GSS | 1994–2000 | 2 |
| Other important issue: immigration (follow-on) NOTE: This variable originates on the GSS Next follow-on, and should not be analyzed without the GSS Next-specific weights WTSSPS_NEXT or WTSSNRPS_NEXT | GSS | 2025 | 1 |
| Immigrants improve society with new ideas and cultures Immigrants improve American society by bringing new ideas and cultures. | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| Build a wall on the Mexican border What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico] | CES | 2024 | 1 |
| Immigrants increase crime rates There are different opinions about immigrants from other countries living in America. By “immigrants” we mean people who come to settle in America. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?… Immigrants increase crime rates. | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| Permanent residency and citizenship path for Dreamers What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Provide permanent resident status to children of immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents (also known as Dreamers). Provide these immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they meet the citizenship requirements and have committed no crimes] | CES | 2024 | 1 |
| Immigrants take jobs away from native-born Americans There are different opinions about immigrants from other countries living in America. By “immigrants” we mean people who come to settle in America. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?… Immigrants take jobs away from people who were born in America. | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| More border patrols on the Mexican border What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase the number of border patrols on the US-Mexican border] | CES | 2024 | 1 |
| Legal status for long-term working immigrants What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Grant legal status to all illegal immigrants who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least 3 years, and not been convicted of any felony crimes] | CES | 2024 | 1 |
| Deny asylum to immigrants crossing the border illegally Do you support or oppose each of the following bills before Congress? [Deny access to asylum for immigrants who cross the US-Mexico border illegally] | CES | 2024 | 1 |
| Preference for US-born over immigrants in jobs, housing, and health care People born in America should be given preference over immigrants when it comes to jobs, housing, or health care. | GSS | 2024 | 1 |
| Immigration from Asia should increase or decrease Do you think the number of immigrants from Asia who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be decreased, increased or left the same? | GSS | 2022 | 1 |
| Immigration from Latin America should increase or decrease Do you think the number of immigrants from Latin America who are permitted to come to the United States to live should be decreased, increased or left the same? | GSS | 2022 | 1 |
| More border security spending and a border wall What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase spending on border security by $25 billion, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico] | CES | 2022 | 1 |
| More border patrols on the Mexican border What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase the number of border patrols on the US-Mexican border] | CES | 2022 | 1 |
| Legal status for long-employed illegal immigrants What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Grant legal status to all illegal immigrants who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least 3 years, and not been convicted of any felony crimes] | CES | 2022 | 1 |
| Cut legal immigration by half What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Reduce legal immigration by 50 percent over the next 10 years by eliminating the visa lottery and ending family-based migration] | CES | 2022 | 1 |
| Conflict between natives and immigrants People born in America and people from other countries who have come to live in America? | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Limit immigration to protect national way of life America should limit immigration in order to protect our national way of life. | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Allow people from poor countries to work in wealthy countries People from poor countries should be allowed to work in wealthy countries. | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Suspending program letting asylum seekers stay in the U.S. For each of the following tell us whether you support or oppose these decisions. [Suspend a program that allows migrants to remain in the US while their asylum cases were being decided.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Pathway to citizenship for Dreamers Over the past two years, Congress voted on many issues. Do you support each of the following proposals? [Provide permanent resident status to children of immigrants who were brought to the United States by their parents (also known as Dreamers). Provide these immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they meet the citizenship requirements and commit no crimes.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Increase border patrols on the Mexican border What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase the number of border patrols on the US-Mexican border.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Withhold funds from police not reporting illegal immigrants What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Withhold federal funds from any local police department that does not report to the federal government anyone they identify as an illegal immigrant.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Cut legal immigration by 50 percent over 10 years What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Reduce legal immigration by 50 percent over the next 10 years by eliminating the visa lottery and ending family-based migration.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| More border security spending, including a border wall What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase spending on border security by $25 billion, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Legal status for working, tax-paying illegal immigrants What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Grant legal status to all illegal immigrants who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least 3 years, and not been convicted of any felony crimes.] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Declaring a national emergency to build a border wall For each of the following tell us whether you support or oppose these decisions. [Declare a national emergency to permit construction of border wall with Mexico] | CES | 2020 | 1 |
| Legal status for children brought by immigrant parents (DACA) What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Provide legal status to children of immigrants who are already in the United States and were brought to the United States by their parents. Provide these children the option of citizenship in 10 years if they meet citizenship requirements and commit no crimes. (DACA).] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Prison for deported immigrants who reenter the U.S. What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Send to prison any person who has been deported from the United States and reenters the United States.] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Temporary travel ban on immigrants from six countries President Trump has issued many orders over the first two years of his presidency. For each of the following tell us whether you support or oppose the order in principle. [Ban immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Libya from coming to the United States for 90 days. Permanently prohibits Syrian refugees from entering country.] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Reduce legal immigration by ending visa lottery and family migration lottery and ending family-based migration What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Reduce legal immigration by eliminating the visa lottery and endi] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Immigration package: DACA status, border wall, and legal immigration cuts billion to build the border wall, and reduce legal immigration by eliminating the visa lottery and ending family-based migration What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Grant legal status to DACA children, spend $25 billion to build t] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| More border security spending and a border wall What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Increase spending on border security by $25 billion, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Withhold federal funds from police not reporting illegal immigrants What do you think the U.S. government should do about immigration? Do you support or oppose each of the following? [Withhold federal funds from any local police department that does not report to the federal government anyone they identify as an illegal immigrant] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Legal immigrants should have equal access to public education C. Legal immigrants should have equal access to public education as American citizens. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Immigrants undermine American culture B. American culture is generally undermined by immigrants. | GSS | 2014 | 1 |
| Immigrants improve American society with new ideas A. Immigrants improve American society by bringing in new ideas and cultures | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Citizenship for children born abroad to American parent D. Children born abroad should have the right to become American citizens if at least one of their parents is an American citizen. | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Government spends too much assisting immigrants B. Government spends too much money assisting immigrants. | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| Citizenship for US-born children of noncitizen parents C. Children born in America of parents who are not citizens should have the right to become American citizens. | GSS | 2004 | 1 |
| More immigrants will lead to higher crime rates A. Higher crime rates? | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| How often other languages are heard in the community A. How often do you hear languages other than English spoken in the local community where you live? | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Ballots in other languages where many don't speak English F. Election ballots should be printed in other languages in areas where lots of people don't speak English. | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Immigrants causing native-born Americans to lose jobs C. People born in the U.S. losing their jobs? | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| English threatened by immigrant community languages E. English will be threatened if other languages are frequently used in large immigrant communities in the U.S. | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Immigration from Europe should increase or decrease What about the number of immigrants from Europe? (should it be increased a lot, increased a little, left the same as it is now, decreased a little, or decreased a lot?) | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| How often other languages are heard at work B. How often do you hear languages other than English spoken in the place where you work? (READ CATEGORIES) | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| More immigrants will make country open to new ideas B. Making the country more open to new ideas and cultures? | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Refugees from political repression should be allowed to stay How much do you agree or disagree that refugees who have suffered political repression in their own country should be allowed to stay in America? | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Rating of legal immigrants as rich or poor A1. Immigrants who are in this country legally? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Whether legal immigrants should get immediate government aid Under current law, immigrants who come from other countries to the United States legally are entitled, from the very beginning, to government assistance such as Medicaid, food stamps, or welfare on the same basis as citizens. But some people say they should not be eligible until they have lived here for a year or more. Which do you think? Do you think that immigrants who are here legally should be eligible for such services as soon as they come, or should they not be eligible? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Rating legal immigrants as hard-working or lazy B1. Legal immigrants? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Work permits for illegal immigrants • Should illegal immigrants be entitled to work permits, or not? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Change in Hispanic and Asian share of local population Compared to 10 years ago do Hispanics and Asians make up a larger share of the population in your local community, the same share, or a smaller share? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Rating of illegal immigrants as hard-working or lazy B2. Illegal immigrants? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Likelihood immigrant gets a job over an equally qualified family member B. What about immigrants? Is it very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely that you or anyone in your family won't get a job or promotion while an equally or less qualified immigrant employee receives one instead? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Illegal immigrants' access to public universities 2. Should they be entitled to attend public universities at the same costs as other students, or not? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| More immigrants will lead to higher economic growth A. Higher economic growth. | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Printing election ballots only in English Do you believe that election ballots should be printed only in English, or in areas where lots of people don't speak English, should they also be printed in some other languages? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Rating of illegal immigrants as rich or poor A2. Immigrants who are in this country illegally? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Citizenship for children of illegal immigrants 3. Should they be entitled to have their children continue to qualify as American citizens if born in the United States, or not? | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Immigrants leading to higher unemployment B. Higher unemployment. | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Immigrants should overcome prejudice without special favors B. The Irish, Italians, Jews, and many other minorities overcame prejudice and worked their way up. Today's immigrants should do the same without any special favors. | GSS | 1994 | 1 |
| Immigrants too demanding in push for equal rights A. Immigrants are getting too demanding in their push for equal rights. | GSS | 1994 | 1 |