More Americans favour increased immigration than ever before: Gallup

PUNE: The number of Americans who want immigration to the country to increase has risen form 27% last year to 34% according to a recently conducted poll by Gallup. This is the first time that such a large number of people are in favour of increased immigration from the time the poll was first started in 1965. The poll also found that for the first time the number of people who want more immigration outnumber those who don’t. While 28% respondents favour decreased immigration, 36% feel it should be maintained at current levels.

The poll was conducted between May 28-June 4, before the Donald Trump administration temporarily suspended the H-1B and other non-immigrant visa programs till the end of this year. It also preceeds the US Supreme Court ruling which invalidated the administrations action to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act, which offers legal protection for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

Nearly 8 in ten (77%) Americans believed that immigration is a good thing for their country. There is less of a partisan divide, with supporters of both parties expressing an overall more positive view of immigration. Only 19% said that they thought immigration was a bad thing, the lowest percentage since the question was first introduced in 2001.


Immigration has always been a focus area for the current government. Donald Trump, who is up for re-election later this year came to power on the back on a strong anti-immigration stance.