Strong Majority of U.S. Voters Support Refugee Resettlement as Administration Plans to Slash Program by Nearly 95 Percent
Polling also shows significant public opposition to other federal policies that undermine protection in the United States and put the lives of people seeking safety in jeopardy
WASHINGTON—New polling data from the Refugee Advocacy Lab, Refugees International, and Data for Progress finds that more than two-thirds of voters support the United States having a refugee resettlement program that helps bring people seeking safety to the United States. This includes 79 percent support among Democrats, 68 percent among Independents, and 59 percent among Republicans.
This data comes as the Trump administration is expected to announce the smallest ever refugee resettlement program for the coming fiscal year, aiming to welcome just 7,500 people. This is a nearly 95 percent reduction in the program compared to last fiscal year, and is a reduction by half from Trump’s lowest goal for the program in his first term (15,000). No other U.S. president of any party has ever set a refugee goal for the program below 60,000.
Notably, Republican support for refugee resettlement increased by 12 points since this same poll was conducted one year ago, returning to steady levels of support among Republicans seen in previous years.
The new poll also revealed the deep unpopularity of several other policy changes enacted by this administration that have undermined access to protection for people seeking safety in the United States and abroad, including:
More than two-thirds of voters believe that the U.S. should consider granting asylum to women and girls fleeing gender-based violence – a practice the Department of Justice recently instructed immigration judges to reverse. This includes 80 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Independents, and 59 percent of Republicans.
A strong majority of voters – 65 percent – oppose the deportation of immigrants to countries where they have never lived and their safety is not guaranteed. This includes 83 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of Independents, and nearly half (47 percent) of Republicans.
A majority of voters oppose deporting people who entered the United States legally on humanitarian status (such as Afghans, Ukrainians, Haitians, Venezuelans, and others).
A majority of voters oppose the United States withdrawing from the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
A majority of voters oppose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting immigrants in “protected areas” such as schools, churches, and hospitals.
The data also showed a consistent finding over three years of polling that when someone personally knows a refugee, they are significantly more likely to support refugee resettlement. This year’s poll found that overall support for the program jumps 15 points to 84 percent among respondents who report they know a refugee.
“As the Trump administration moves to virtually end the refugee resettlement program as we know it, we have concrete evidence showing that this policy change is completely out of step with what Americans want,” said Kate Brick, Executive Director of the Refugee Advocacy Lab. “Voters across the political spectrum continue to believe in offering refuge to people fleeing violence and persecution and reject the administration’s harmful immigration policies that have put millions of lives in danger, damaging our communities, our economy, and our global reputation. The American public has not turned its back on people seeking safety – Washington has.”
“Across several years of polling, we have found strong and steady support for the United States’ refugee program,” said Ryan O’Donnell, Interim Executive Director of Data for Progress. “As we’ve all seen, Trump’s approval rating on immigration has steadily declined since his inauguration as he continues to push an inhumane, unpopular deportation agenda. His moves to restrict asylum access and deport immigrants to countries they have never lived are just two more examples of where he is blatantly out of step with public opinion on these issues.”
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Etant Dupain at edupain@refugeesinternational.org.