A new survey suggests that the majority of Americans are in favor of the immigration system touted by President Donald Trump. This would be one based on merit and skills, rather than the current system, based largely on family ties.
According to a new poll from Rasmussen Reports, 44 percent of Americans likely to vote, believe in moving to an immigration system that allows immigrants only to come to the US if the country needs their skills. Just 37 percent of likely voters want to see the current immigration system, based on family chains, retained. A further 18 percent said they could not decide which system they thought was best.
Younger, and male voters, in particular, favored a merit-based immigration system, with 51 percent in favor of a change, compared to 38 percent of women. 49 percent of voters, between the ages of 18 and 30, also agree with the idea, compared to voters between the ages of 43 and 60, of whom, 43 percent would prefer to see the status quo maintained. 60 percent of Republicans are strong supporters of the President’s plan, while 47 percent of voters with no affiliation to either of the two main US political parties were also in favor.
Americans also seemed to be in favor of deporting undocumented immigrants, with 45 percent believing this should still be done even if the immigrants have US-born children, although 37 percent disagreed.