Poll finds legal immigration gaining support

Fewer want cuts to lawful migration, citing economic growth as a benefit.

- BY ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON AND AMELIA THOMSON- DEVEAUX

MARIA ZACARIAS sings the national anthem at a naturalization ceremony in Riverside last week.

As President Trump’s administration imposes new restrictions on the legal immigration system, U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think these immigrants benefit the country, according to a new poll.

The survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to economic growth and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. The survey also shows that Americans are less likely than they were in January to say the number of legal immigrants to the U.S. should be reduced.

Slightly fewer than half of Americans say the number should remain the same, a similar percentage from earlier this year.

At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven't shifted meaningfully. Americans continue to see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally, and they're more likely to see major risks from these immigrants, including the concern that they’ll commit crimes while in the U.S.

Trump has focused much of his attention on arresting and deporting those in the country illegally, but new screenings, vetting and increased costs are also impacting people who want to come to the U.S. legally to work or study. On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation to overhaul the H-1B visa program, one of the most common pathways for highly skilled foreign workers, to require a $100,000 fee for applications. The application fee was previously $215, plus other relatively nominal processing charges.