Americans increasingly see legal immigrants as a benefit despite Trump’s stricter rules

A new poll shows that US adults are more likely than a year ago to see legal immigrants as a benefit to the country, even as President Donald Trump’s administration imposes new restrictions on the immigration system. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, finds that Americans now more often say legal immigrants contribute to economic growth and bring skilled expertise to US companies.

Slightly fewer than half of Americans think the number of legal immigrants should remain the same, while about one-quarter believe it should be reduced, a drop from earlier this year. Even among Republicans, the share favoring reduced legal immigration has fallen to about 30% from 45% in January.

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Legal immigrants: economic and cultural gains
About 60% of US adults now see a “major” benefit in legal immigrants contributing to economic growth, up from 40% in March 2024. Similarly, 51% say legal immigration provides skilled workers in fields like science and technology, compared with 41% last year.

Carlos Gonzalez, born in the US to Panamanian parents, said, “They bring different ideas that help the economy. A lot of people don’t realize that when they do come over here, they try to enrich the country and not take away from it.”

Cultural benefits are also recognized, with 46% saying legal immigrants enrich American culture and values, up from 38% in the previous poll. Philip Steers, a 76-year-old Republican from Florida, emphasized the need to simplify legal immigration: “If you are pushing all those people who are illegal out, why not make it easier for people who want to come here legally? We need to speed up the process for those who want to come here to benefit our country.”

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Illegal immigration perceptions remain largely unchanged
Americans continue to see fewer benefits and greater risks from people in the country illegally. Around half say it’s a major risk that these immigrants will burden welfare and safety net programs. About 42% say illegal immigrants contribute to economic growth, while 32% believe they enrich American culture.

Jeff Witoszczak, a moderate Republican from Texas, said, “Coming here illegally, that’s a crime in and of itself. They didn’t follow due process coming in. They don’t need due process going out.”

Trump’s recent policies include a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, anti-Americanism screening for green card applicants, and social media vetting for student visas. While these rules target legal pathways, public opinion shows more Americans see the benefits of legal immigrants outweighing the risks.