Survey Reveals Americans Divided on Legal Immigration
A recent survey conducted by The Economist and YouGov found that a significant portion of Americans—around one-third—believe the number of legal immigrants entering the country should be reduced or eliminated entirely. Respondents were presented with options about whether the annual legal immigration numbers should increase, decrease, stay the same, or drop to zero.
Opinions were somewhat mixed. About 26% felt the number of legal immigrants should remain unchanged, while another 26% suggested it should be reduced. Additionally, 9% thought it should be eliminated altogether, and 23% expressed a desire for an increase.
When broken down by political affiliation, opinions shifted. Forty-one percent of Democrats believed that immigration numbers should hold steady, with 33% advocating for an increase and 14% calling for a reduction. In contrast, among Republicans, 41% said the numbers should be decreased, while 26% felt they should stay the same, and 19% wanted a complete elimination. Alarmingly, only 7% of Republicans thought the numbers should rise.
Independents showed a bit more variety in their responses: 24% wanted the count to remain the same, 23% suggested a reduction, 22% favored an increase, and 7% believed it should be cut to zero.
The survey was carried out from November 21 to 24, 2025, involving 1,677 U.S. citizens. The margin of error stands at +/- 3.4%.
This survey emerges at a time when the Trump administration is actively combating illegal immigration and addressing concerns around job availability for American workers. Vice President J.D. Vance highlighted these issues during a recent event with Breitbart News, focusing on positive job statistics and asserting that jobs were increasingly going to native-born Americans, in contrast to the previous administration’s experience.
Vance remarked, “This jobs report shows that manufacturing hours are actually on the rise. The private sector is driving this economic growth and job creation, which is crucial.” He noted a shift in job allocation compared to the Biden era, where jobs largely went to foreign nationals. “Under Biden, job growth existed, but the majority of new jobs were filled by foreign-born individuals, including some who are illegal, which isn’t ideal,” he added.
Vance emphasized his pride in the current job growth benefiting American workers, calling it a significant positive outcome of the Trump administration’s economic policies.
Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who also spoke at the event, shared his perspective on the Biden administration’s impact on the working class, suggesting that more than 10 million foreign workers have exacerbated economic issues. “They created crises in housing, insurance, and food availability. The consequences have been dire, particularly for younger people,” he stated.
