Immigration is once again a controversial issue this election yearand a large majority of Americans are dissatisfied with how the government is handling the situation at the southern border, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
Although most American adults are unhappy with the way things are going at the border, their views on the severity of the problem differ by religion.
The Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand the connection between Americans’ religious affiliation and their views on the large number of migrants seeking to enter the United States through the border with Mexico.
For this analysis, we surveyed 5,140 adults from January 16-21, 2024. All those who participated in this survey are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel recruited through from a national random sampling of residential addresses. This way, almost every American adult has a chance of being selected. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Learn more about the The ATP methodology.
here are the questions used for this analysisaccompanied by the answers, and its methodology.
The majority of white Christian groups say the large numbers of migrants seeking to enter through the border with Mexico constitute a “crisis” for the United States:
- 70% white evangelical Protestants
- 64% white Catholics
- 57% of non-evangelical white Protestants
Many other people in these religious groups say the large number of migrants are a “major problem” for the United States, while fewer than one in five people in each group say it is just a matter of ‘minor problem’ or ‘not a problem’. »
Most black Protestants and the religiously unaffiliated — people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or nothing in particular, and are often called “nones” — also say the situation at the border is at least a major problem. . However, compared to white Christians, a smaller share of black Protestants and religiously unaffiliated adults believe the situation at the border is a crisis.
The survey did not include enough responses from Hispanic Catholics and subgroups of religiously unaffiliated Americans to allow for a separate analysis of whether or not they perceive the border situation as a crisis. However, other questions in the survey – which are discussed in more detail below – TO DO allow a separate analysis of these groups.
The poll I didn’t have large enough samples small religious groups, such as Jews and Muslims, to show their answers to one of the questions.
What is the cause of the influx of migrants?
There are also great differences depending on religion regarding views on Why migrants seek to enter the United States
On the one hand, a majority of American adults, as well as a majority of all religious groups analyzed here, say that economic factors – whether poor conditions in migrants’ home countries or better economic opportunities in the United States – are a major factor driving this influx.
However, white evangelical Protestants are less more likely than other religious groups to say that fleeing violence in their home country is one of the main reasons migrants come to the United States. more are more likely than most other groups to say that migrants come because they believe U.S. immigration policies will make it easier for them to stay once they arrive.
Among white evangelical Protestants, half say violence in migrants’ countries of origin is a major reason for the influx, compared with larger shares of white Catholics (57%), white non-evangelical Protestants (64%). %), Hispanic Catholics (68%) and black Protestants. (72%) who say the same thing. About three-quarters of religiously unaffiliated people, including 86% of atheists, take this position.
On the other hand, 74% of white evangelicals say a significant factor behind the influx is the belief that U.S. immigration policies will make it easier to stay, as do 69% of white Catholics, 66% of white non-evangelical Protestants and 62% of Hispanics. Catholics. Fewer black Protestants (52%) and religiously unaffiliated Americans (44%) say this is a major factor.
Does the influx of migrants lead to more crime?
There has long been a debate about whether migration leads to more crime. Studies have often shown that immigration is not associated with higher crime ratesbut opinions are polarized along partisan lines.
In our recent survey, we asked Americans whether the large number of migrants seeking to enter the border with Mexico was leading to an increase in crime in the United States, a decrease in crime, or not having much impact on crime.
White evangelical Protestants are more likely than those from other religious groups to say the situation at the border is leading to an increase in crime in the country. Smaller but still substantial majorities of white Catholics (70%) and white non-evangelical Protestants (69%) say the same thing.
In contrast, among adults with no religious affiliation, 58% say the situation at the border either has little impact on crime or leads to a decrease in crime. About half of black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics share this view.
Differences between religious groups on many of these issues correspond to broader divisions between Republicans and Democrats. White Christians – particularly white evangelical Protestants, but also white Catholics and white non-evangelical Protestants – vote mainly for Republican candidates. And many more Republicans than Democrats consider the situation a crisis and say the influx of migrants is leading to an increase in crime.
On the other hand, black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics and “non-religious” voters overwhelmingly vote Democratic. And Democrats are much less likely than Republicans to view the situation as a crisis or to say that the influx of migrants is increasing crime.
