Little change in views of immigration goals since 2016, though more Republicans say it's important to take in refugees from violent countries % who say each is a very/somewhat important goal for U.S. immigration policy Establish a way
The most notable change has occurred in attitudes toward taking in refugees. In the earlier survey, 61% said that admitting refugees escaping war and violence was a very or somewhat important goal. In the new survey, the share has increased to 73%.
Shifting views among Republicans account for most of this increase. In 2016, 40% of Republicans said admitting refugees was an important goal. Today, a majority of Republicans (58%) hold this view. The share of Republicans who now say admitting refugees should be a somewhat important goal has risen from 28% in 2016 to 43% today. The proportion who say this should be a very important goal has remained essentially the same (13% in 2016, 15% today).
Little change in views of immigration goals since 2016, though more Republicans  | say it's important to take in refugees from violent countries  | % who say each is a very/somewhat important goal for U.S. immigration policy  | Very important  | Somewhat important  | Establish a way  | for immigrants Stay here  | Take in refugees  | those Increase deportations of  | illegally to Stay legally  | those in the U.S. illegally  | escaping from violence and war  | 85  | 83  | 82  | 81  | 79  | 76  | 73  | 67  | 62  | 32  | 38  | 58  | 58  | 36  | 33  | 36  | 54  | 37  | 48  | 46  | 40  | 34  | 41  | 40  | 34  | 32  | 29  | 26  | 31  | 43  | 31  | 31  | 26  | 28  | 47 51  | 46  | 43 47  | 21  | 39  | 28 33  | 29 32  | 29 28  | 14 17  | 15  | 13 15  | 10  | '16 '19  | '16 '19  | '16 '19  | 16 '19  | '16 '19  | '16 '19  | '16 19  | '16 '19  | '16 '19  | Total  | Total  | Total  | Rep/  | Dem/  | Rep/  | Dem/  | Rep/  | Dem/  | Lean Rep  | Lean Dem  | Lean Rep  | Lean Dem  | Lean Rep  | Lean Dem  | Note: Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding. No answer responses not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S adults conducted Sept 3-15, 2019  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 