Americans, Europeans, and Immigration
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Americans aren’t the only ones dealing with immigration. The United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, France, Germany and the Netherlands have also found themselves contradicting their values when in comes to immigration.
Should we deport undocumented immigrants or should we let them stay? Should undocumented immigrants receive social services or not? Do immigrants, as a whole, benefit our societies or not? Should we work with the countries people are migrating from, or should we try to solve the immigration problems on our own?
The results? They were mixed. It seems Europeans are just as torn as Americans. But Americans also seem a little more welcoming than Europeans.
While the majority of Americans prefer to legalize all of the undocumented immigrants already living in the country, the majority of Europeans don’t. (Only 38% favor legalization.) On the other hand, over half of Americans believe they can’t compete with immigrants for jobs, a sentiment that repeatedly fuels hostility towards immigrants.
At the same time Americans hold contradictory views towards immigrants. While Americans prefer to blame immigrants for employers hiring undocumented immigrants instead of themselves – a negative sentiment towards immigrants, Americans hold an extremely positive attitude towards immigrants’ work ethic. In fact, 86% of Americans believe that immigrants are hardworking and that immigrant communities help create jobs by investing and opening new businesses. On the other end of the stick, Americans also think immigrants increase crime.
European’s sentiment towards immigrants and job opportunities was not available.
Americans and Europeans also share some similar – yet contradictory - views about immigration. A majority believe immigrants “should have full access to social benefits, including health care.” However, one-quarter of Americans and the British “strongly oppose” immigrants receiving social benefits.
It seems that we can find a better way to live. It seems we can find a better way to share.
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