Overview

• In a Sept. 11–15 AP-NORC survey of 1,183 adults, 58% said legal migrants provide a major economic benefit, up from 42% in March 2024 (margin of error ±3.8 points).
• 51% said U.S. companies gain a major benefit from skilled legal workers in fields like science and technology, roughly 10 points higher than last year.
• Only 23% now want the number of legal immigrants reduced, while 46% prefer current levels and 29% favor an increase.
• Support for cutting legal immigration has softened among Republicans, with about 3 in 10 favoring reductions, down from 45% in January.
• Views of immigrants in the country illegally show little change, as the Trump administration sets a $100,000 H-1B application fee and expands screening for green cards and student visas.