Americans see high-skilled immigrant workers as a priority

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Nearly half of U.S. adults say legal immigration into the United States should be kept at present levels. Fewer say it should be increased or decreased, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in August 2024.

Each year, about 1 million immigrants receive legal permanent residence (a green card) and are legally admitted to the U.S. Most of them are eligible because they have family already in the country.

Other immigrants receive temporary visas to work in sectors such as technology and agriculture.

The incoming Trump administration’s approach to legal immigration policy remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the technology sector is lobbying for the country to admit more high-skilled immigrant workers.

Some Americans are more likely than others to support increasing legal immigration:

50% of Americans ages 18 to 29 say legal immigration should be increased, compared with 20% of those 50 and older.

41% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say legal immigration should be increased, compared with 20% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

46% of Asian Americans say legal immigration should be increased. This is a higher share than among White (27%), Black (30%) and Hispanic (32%) adults.

How would mass deportation of migrants under Trump actually work?