ABSTRACT
Immigration is producing profound demographic changes in the United States. Because immigrants tend to be younger and have higher fertility rates than the native-born, this proportion is rising steadily; immigrants now account for more than one-third of the population growth in the United States. Almost all Americans favor some restrictions on immigration. Although those who favor restrictions are commonly seen as monolithic in their views, they are actually a diverse group motivated by different emotions, principles, and interests some of which are misrepresented in public debate. Most Americans are pragmatic restrictionists, although one cannot be certain. In a recent study, political scientists Paul Sniderman and Thomas Piazza examined public attitudes toward race-oriented policy issues and found them notably responsive to counter-argument. The evidence did not specifically concern attitudes toward immigration policy. Surveys of public opinion that specifically inquire about immigration tend to support my claim that most Americans are pragmatic restrictionists.
