Attitudes on Latino Immigration in North Carolina Fall 2008 Survey September 29-October 30 Prof. Daniel Riffe.

Attitudes on Latino Immigration in North Carolina

Fall 2008 Survey

September 29-October 30

Prof. Daniel Riffe

The issue: Latino immigration

• 5% of U.S. population “foreign-born” in 1970

• 10% “foreign-born” in 2004

• 15% of U.S. population Latino/a by 2007

• Latinos in the south: 2% in 1990

• Latinos in N.C.: 1% of population in 1990

• Latinos in N.C.: 4.7% in 2000

• Latinos in N.C.: 7% in 2007

SURVEY QUESTIONS:In each of the areas listed, please tell me whether you think recent Latino

immigrants moving to North Carolina are making the

situation in the state better, worse, or not having much effect.

Question Better Worse Not much effect

The crime situation 2.8 60.9 36.4

How much things cost 9.7 27.7 62.6

Food, music and the arts 24.7 16.8 58.5

The economy in general 12.6 53.6 33.8

Taxes 3.3 63.4 33.3

Social and moral values 8.6 38.6 52.8

The quality of public schools

8.9 53.7 37.4

Politics and government 6.6 41.3 52.1

The overall quality of life 13.9 35.9 50.2

How much do you agree or disagree with a number of statements?

Do you strongly agree, agree somewhat, neither agree nor disagree, disagree

somewhat, or strongly disagree that:

Question Stronglyagree

Agreesomewhat

Neitheragree nor disagree

Disagree somewhat

Strongly disagree

Immigrants make the most of the economic opportunities they find.

39.3 39.7 3.0 9.0 9.0

Immigrants take jobs away from American citizens.

37.6 23.8 4.6 19.0 15.1

Immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents.

20.1 32.4 7.8 17.9 21.8

Many immigrants hold low-paying jobs that no one else wants.

46.4 30.8 1.7 7.6 13.6

The total number of immigrants coming to America nowadays should be reduced.

54.8 16.8 7.3 11.8 9.3

Immigrants create a strain on social services and school systems.

59.6 22.0 3.9 8.0 6.5

Immigrant labor keeps prices down. 12.1 32.0 8.0 19.1 28.8

Question Never Sometimes Quite often

How often do you personally come in contact with immigrants who speak little or no English?

6.0 39.7 54.2

Question Stronglyagree

Agreesomewhat

Neitheragree nor disagree

Disagree somewhat

Strongly disagree

Immigrants are getting too demanding in their push for rights.

37.1 23.6 9.6 18.0 11.8

The growing number of immigrants threatens traditional American customs and values.

36.1 24.3 5.4 16.5 17.6

Most immigrants keep to themselves.

24.1 45.3 4.3 13.4 13.0

Immigrants bring crime to America.

27.0 33.5 6.3 18.6 14.5

Past generations of immigrants have made important contributions to America.

48.6 32.5 2.6 5.4 10.8

Question Stronglyagree

Agreesomewhat

Neitheragree nor disagree

Disagree somewhat

Strongly disagree

Government should increase efforts to prevent illegal immigration.

75.7 14.6 2.8 2.8 4.1

If illegal immigrants obey the law they deserve to become citizens.

25.0 32.6 1.7 11.0 29.7

Government should increase efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

57.9 21.6 3.9 8.8 7.7

Government should increase efforts to help illegal immigrants become legal citizens.

20.7 35.4 3.2 13.6 27.1

What about illegal immigrants? Do you strongly agree, agree somewhat, neither agree nor disagree, disagree somewhat, or strongly disagree that:

Question Yes No

Do you believe illegal immigrants should be able to receive medical care, if they can afford it, without fear of being reported to immigration authorities?

64.2 35.8

Do you believe local police should check the immigration status of people they encounter during routine activities such as traffic stops?

81.6 18.4

Do you believe illegal immigrants who are in the U.S. should be eligible for social services provided by state and local governments?

19.0 81.0

Do you believe the children of illegal immigrants who are in the U.S. should be permitted to attend public schools?

67.6 32.4

Do you believe illegal immigrants who graduate from high schools in North Carolina should be allowed to attend public colleges at in-state tuition rates?

37.4 62.6

Question Stronglyagree

Agreesomewhat

Neitheragree nor disagree

Disagree somewhat

Strongly disagree

I consider myself knowledgeable about immigration issues.

23.4 51.9 6.2 10.9 7.5

The government has allowed immigration to get out of control.

65.9 21.4 3.6 5.4 3.8

I would support increased government spending to secure our borders.

57.3 24.5 4.0 8.1 6.2

There’s not much people like me can do about immigration.

34.0 25.5 4.0 18.1 18.5

If the number of immigrants moving into my community reached a certain point, I would consider moving.

16.6 14.9 7.8 22.5 38.2

I support increased government spending to help immigrants adjust to living in America.

9.2 13.7 4.0 17.6 55.5

Immigration issues play an important role in how I vote.

31.3 22.6 9.5 18.0 18.6

I support increased government spending for deportation of illegal immigrants.

39.2 31.1 4.7 11.2 13.8

Do you strongly agree, agree somewhat, neither agree nor disagree, disagree somewhat, or strongly disagree with this statement:

Question Very favorably

Somewhat favorably

Neither favorably nor unfavorably

Somewhat unfavorably

Very unfavorably

How would you describe the way North Carolina immigrants are treated in the news stories you see about immigrants?

9.6 35.2 28.1 21.6 5.5

Question Too much attention

About the right amount

Too little attention

Do you think the amount of attention that North Carolina television news and newspapers give to immigrant issues in North Carolina is too much, too little, or about the right amount?

10.4 32.8 56.8

Diversity of survey respondents (gender, residence, age, education, employment status, race, political identification, political ideology, religion, presence of children in the home, and income). Also time spent viewing the news and reading the paper and on the Internet, and attention paid to immigration stories.

Implications for N.C. News Media?

• The “hostile media” perception

• People with strong opinions on issues perceive news media coverage—no matter how fair and balanced—as deliberately slanted against their view.

• People presume that news media coverage—perceived to be slanted—will influence others (“third persons”) in the biased direction.

Testing the Idea

• Create a statement which best summarizes strongly held beliefs:– Immigrants bring crime.

– Immigration threatens traditional American customs and values.

– Immigrants are becoming too demanding in their push for rights.

• Create a way to measure these beliefs.

Testing the Idea

• Measure perceived favorableness of news media coverage of immigrants and immigration.

• Measure perception of news media coverage on others.

The Results?

• Confirmed:

• Anti-immigrant sentiment > Perceived pro-immigration coverage > Concern that others will be affected by coverage

• Implications? Declining media credibility, loss of readership, etc.

Thank you!

For more information, contact Prof. Daniel Riffe, [email protected]