Crossing Borders and Crossing Minds: The Influence of Public Perception on US Immigration Policy

A strong connection between public opinion on immigration in the United States and changes in immigration policy is well-established in migration-related literature. Not much research, however, has been conducted on the differential impacts of pro-immigration and anti-immigration aggregate opinion. Does pro-immigration public opinion affect immigration policy in the United States to the same extent as anti-immigration public opinion? I hypothesize anti-immigration public opinion will translate to a greater number of restrictive policies than pro-immigration public opinion translates to liberal policies. Through assessing correlations between shifts in public opinion and policies implemented, this study shows negative shifts in public opinion correspond with a greater number of restrictive immigration policies. With the current polarization and securitization of immigration to the United States, understanding the impacts of shifts in public opinion can aid pro- and anti-immigration advocates to leverage public opinion to change policy.