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Informed Midwesterners More Likely to Support Immigration Reform

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey by Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura
US-Mexico border crossing
Simon Foot

While the midwestern public is somewhat divided on specific reforms, those who have accurate information about shifting immigration flows and changing labor needs express majority support for key immigration policy proposals.

Key Findings

A public opinion survey published by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs finds a majority of Midwesterners who have accurate information about shifting immigration flows and changing labor needs support key immigration policy proposals. 

According to Chicago Council Survey data, Americans today are considerably less threatened by immigration than they have been in the past two decades. Despite this trend, Midwesterners are split over whether to pursue a comprehensive immigration reform package or an incremental approach (38% comprehensive versus 41% incremental). 

About the Authors
Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
Headshot for Dina Smeltz
Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.
Headshot for Dina Smeltz
Assistant Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
headshot of Craig Kafura
Craig Kafura is the assistant director for public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.
headshot of Craig Kafura