Eighty-four percent (84%) of voters say that illegal immigration is bad for the United States. A Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters found that only 12% believe it is good for our nation. Those numbers have remained broadly unchanged for decades.
We asked those who see illegal immigration as bad what concerns them. In response to an open-ended question, 49% cited crime and safety concerns while 26% saw it creating a burden on the economy and health care system.
At the same time, however, 83% say legal immigration is good for the country. That view has also remained stable for decades. Voters make a clear distinction between legal and illegal immigration.
"Overall, these numbers reflect the fact that voters see America as both a national of immigrants and a nation of laws," according to RMG Research president Scott Rasmussen. "Voters understand why most immigrants want to bring their families to the land of opportunity. But they are angry at the federal government for allowing and encouraging illegal immigration.
