Immigration

Ilya Somin | 9.25.2024 8:02 PM

Widespread political ignorance is a serious problem that both major-party presidential candidates are trying to exploit. A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds extensive ignorance on the key issue of immigration. The study finds large numbers of people believe misinformation about immigration, while rejecting true statements about it.

For example, 51% believe it is "definitely true" or "probably true" that "Immigrants are causing an increase in violent crime in the U.S" (48% say this is definitely or probably false). In reality, immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, have much lower violent crime rates than native-born citizens. Similarly, 44% believe it is "definitely true" or "probably true" that "Immigrants are taking jobs and causing an increase in unemployment for people born in the U.S" (56% think this is definitely or probably false). Most economists conclude that immigration does not increase unemployment among natives, and deportation of undocumented immigrants actually destroys more jobs for native-born workers than it creates than........

© Reason.com