Are (legal) immigrants exceptionally anti-immigration?

[Sir Mohamed]

I kind of have a feeling it's that way, especially from RL conversations among different immigrant groups. Hispanics in particular, but also Pacific Islanders and certain Muslim communities. That would also explain why Trump made some inroads among these groups and something Dem candidates need to consider.

My theory is that some 2nd generation immigrants feel like they had lesser privileges when they arrived as opposed to immigrants in our day, even illegal aliens (maybe them in particular). Personally, I find there's also some logic to opposing illegal immigrantion when you yourself played by the rules to build a living in the United States (or Canada, the UK, whereever...).

What are your thoughts?

[OSR stands with Israel]

I would say they are anti illegal immigration but pro legal immigration but in reality it depends on the individual just like it does for non immigrants. I would say immigration though is overrated as an issue in how they vote.

Even 2012 showed more Hispanics voted Obama due to healthcare issue rather than immigration.

[Sir Mohamed]

I would say they are anti illegal immigration but pro legal immigration but in reality it depends on the individual just like it does for non immigrants. I would say immigration though is overrated as an issue in how they vote.

Even 2012 showed more Hispanics voted Obama due to healthcare issue rather than immigration.

I think it's a common mistake to assume Hispanics would just care about immigration. Just like it's a mistake to believe black voters only care about criminal justice and civil rights.

[OSR stands with Israel]

I would say they are anti illegal immigration but pro legal immigration but in reality it depends on the individual just like it does for non immigrants. I would say immigration though is overrated as an issue in how they vote.

Even 2012 showed more Hispanics voted Obama due to healthcare issue rather than immigration.

I think it's a common mistake to assume Hispanics would just care about immigration. Just like it's a mistake to believe black voters only care about criminal justice and civil rights.

It’s just lazy analysis which Sadly has become typical of DC punditry. I’d say the normie  Position  on immigration is to just oppose the current administration policy regardless of who is in office .

Of course I’d say the truth is while pretty much everyone thinks the current immigration system is broken , the establishment does not as they benefit from it from both a business and political standpoint .

[Ferguson97]

So are being "anti-immigration" (as said in the topic title) and being against illegal immigration (what is described in the actual first post of this topic) now the same thing?

In any case, no on all counts, as evidence from Harvard University's 2020 Cooperative Election Study shows.

"Grant legal status to all illegal immigrants who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least 3 years, and not been convicted of any felony crimes."

83.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
67.6% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Increase the number of border patrols on the US-Mexican border."

58.0% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
62.4% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Withhold federal funds from any local police department that does not report to the federal government anyone they identify as an illegal immigrant."

46.0% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
47.9% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Reduce legal immigration by 50 percent over the next 10 years by eliminating the visa lottery and ending family-based migration."

37.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
41.9% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Increase spending on border security by $25 billion, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico."

39.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
45.1% Support among Native-Born American adults

Very interesting data. With the exception of the first question, there's basically no major differences in their responses, just a couple of points. Goes to show how the data doesn't always fit with the "obvious" priors and assumptions. 

[BG-NY (permanently retired)]

Normalized for race and age, yes.

[Mister Mets]

Not entirely.

People who are part of immigrant communities will tend to know people socially who are not legal immigrants, or gained American citizenship through methods that aren't completely kosher.

However, they may be annoyed by things that go against their sense of fairness. If they went through a complex and lengthy process to become citizens, they may not like the idea of others getting the same benefits by cheating. There are also potential limits. My mother was an immigrant, and she was bothered by the idea that her foreign education is seen as just as much of a negative for her as a legal immigrant as it is illegal immigrants applying for the same job.

[SInNYC]

So are being "anti-immigration" (as said in the topic title) and being against illegal immigration (what is described in the actual first post of this topic) now the same thing?

In any case, no on all counts, as evidence from Harvard University's 2020 Cooperative Election Study shows.

"Grant legal status to all illegal immigrants who have held jobs and paid taxes for at least 3 years, and not been convicted of any felony crimes."

83.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
67.6% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Increase the number of border patrols on the US-Mexican border."

58.0% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
62.4% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Withhold federal funds from any local police department that does not report to the federal government anyone they identify as an illegal immigrant."

46.0% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
47.9% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Reduce legal immigration by 50 percent over the next 10 years by eliminating the visa lottery and ending family-based migration."

37.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
41.9% Support among Native-Born American adults

"Increase spending on border security by $25 billion, including building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico."

39.2% Support among Foreign-Born American adults
45.1% Support among Native-Born American adults

Interesting data, and to be honest a bit (but not totally) surprising to me.

But those legal immigrants that have anti illegal immigration views tend to be prominent since they are paraded around by anti-illegal-immigration politicians.