How Immigration and Concerns about
Cultural Changes are Shaping the 2016
Election
Findings from the 2016 PRRI/Brookings Immigration
Survey
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D. | @robertpjones | #ImmSurvey
PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONAL
VULNERABILITY
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be a
victim of terrorism?
2014-2016
Very/somewhat worried
70
Not too/not at all worried
66
60
53
55
47
45
51 *
50
50
40
30
20
33
10
0
Nov-14
Feb-15
May-15
Aug-15
Nov-15
Feb-16
May-16
* Note: Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Sources: PRRI 2014 Post-election American Values Survey; PRRI/RNS December 2015 Survey; PRRI/The
Atlantic April 2016 Survey; PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
3
How worried are you that you or someone in your family will be a
victim of terrorism?
By party affiliation
Very worried
Somewhat worried
Not at all worried
Don't know/Refused
All Americans
18
33
Trump supporter
24
Republican
42
18
Independent
26
16
0
10
33
41
20
Democrat
Not too worried
30
40
26
8
29
8
35
34
20
17
50
21
31
60
70
80
18
90
100
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
4
Do you think the country’s economic recession is over, or do you
think the economy is still in a recession?
2012-2016
Recession is over
80
70 76
60
50
40
30
20
10 21
0
Still in a recession
72
21
72
70
27
29
Sources: ABC News/Washington Post Poll, April 2012; PRRI 2014 American Values Survey; PRRI 2015
American Values Survey; PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
5
CULTURAL PROTECTIONISM
The American way of life needs to be protected against foreign
influence
By party affiliation
Completely agree
Mostly agree
Mostly disagree
Completely disagree Don't know/Refused
All Americans
21
34
Trump supporter
27
45
Republican
38
35
Independent
39
19
Democrat
35
13
0
10
30
40
13 4
19
30
28
20
17
15
30
50
60
70
6
28
80
90
100
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
7
It bothers me when I come in contact with immigrants who speak
little or no English
By party affiliation
Agree
Disagree
100
90
77
80
66
70
60
50
50
64
50
49
40
49
35
33
30
23
20
10
0
All Americans
Trump supporter
Republican
Independent
Democrat
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
8
Today discrimination against whites has become as big a problem
as discrimination against blacks and other minorities
By party affiliation
Agree
Disagree
Don't know/Refused
All Americans
49
49
Trump supporter
81
Republican
19
72
Independent
27
48
Democrat
50
32
0
10
20
30
68
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
9
Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?
By age
America has always been and is currently a Christian nation
America was a Christian nation in the past but not now
America has never been a Christian nation
Don't know/Refused
All Americans
41
Ages 18-29
42
32
30-49
43
38
24
43
50-64
46
65+
10
20
30
40
16
43
49
0
15
10
39
50
60
70
80
9
90
100
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
10
Growing Feeling Among White Evangelical Protestants that
America Is No Longer a Christian Nation
Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?
100
Don't know/Refused
80
60
America has never been a
Christian nation
40
America was a Christian nation
in the past but not now
48
20
45
59
37
America has always been and is
currently a Christian nation
0
2012
2016
Sources: PRRI/Brookings 2012 Race, Class, and Culture Survey;
PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
11
Perception Gap: How Much Are Immigrants Changing Your Own
Community vs. American Society?
Percent who say immigrants are changing their community/American
society "a lot," by party affiliation
Community
American society
70
59
60
51
50
39
40
30
22
39
26
25
27
21
22
20
10
0
All Americans
Trump supporter
Republican
Independent
Democrat
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
12
IMMIGRATION POLICY
Cultural Protectionist Policies
Percent who favor each policy, by party affiliation
All Americans
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Trump supporter
Independent
82
78
66
44
Republican
77
66
43
41
28
Passing a law to prevent Syrian
refugees from entering the U.S.
Democrat
64
40
40
23
Building a wall along the
U.S. border with Mexico
40
23
Temporarily banning
Muslims from other countries from
entering
the U.S.
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
14
How should the immigration system deal with immigrants who are
currently living in the U.S. illegally?
By party affiliation
Allow them a way to become citizens provided they meet certain requirements
Allow them to become permanent legal residents, but not citizens
Identify and deport them
Don't know/Refused
All Americans
61
Democrat
17
21
72
Independent
62
Republican
49
Trump supporter
10
20
30
40
11
16
21
22
45
0
15
29
13
50
41
60
70
80
90
100
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
15
Allowing Immigrants Living in Country Illegally to Become
Citizens, 2013-2016
Percent who favor, by party affiliation
All Americans
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Republican
Democrat
72
71
61
63
53
49
Sources: PRRI Surveys, 2013-2016.
16
ECONOMIC PROTECTIONISM
Are Free Trade Agreements Mostly Helpful or Harmful?
By party affiliation
Mostly helpful because they open markets for U.S. companies and allow Americans to
buy goods more cheaply
Mostly harmful because they send jobs overseas and drive down wages
80
69
70
60
60
50
52
50
43
41
45
49
35
40
27
30
20
10
0
All Americans
Trump supporter
Republican
Independent
Democrat
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
18
Growing Support for Increasing the Tax Rate on Americans
Earning More Than $250,000 a Year
Percent who favor, by party affiliation
2012
2016
90
80
80
70
69
84
68
61
61
60
54
50
36
40
30
20
10
0
All Americans
Republican
Independent
Democrat
Sources: PRRI 2012 American Values Survey; PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
19
LEADERSHIP AND THE 2016 ELECTION
Is your overall opinion of Donald Trump favorable or unfavorable?
By race/ethnicity
Favorable
Unfavorable
100
91
86
90
80
69
70
63
60
50
36
40
30
28
20
10
10
8
0
All Americans
White, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Black, non-Hispanic
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
21
Favorability Gap Between Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton
Percent with a favorable opinion, by gender
Bill Clinton
60
Hillary Clinton
56
55
49
50
38
40
30
20
10
0
Men
Women
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
22
Because things have gotten so far off track in this country, we need a leader
who is willing to break some rules if that’s what it takes to set things right
By party affiliation
Agree
80
Disagree
72
70
57
60
50
49
57
50
48
51
42
41
40
28
30
20
10
0
All Americans
Trump supporter
Republican
Independent
Democrat
Source: PRRI/Brookings 2016 Immigration Survey.
23
Thank You
How Immigration and Concerns about
Cultural Changes are Shaping the 2016
Election can be accessed online at
prri.org/reports
@PRRIpoll