Straight Talk 2018

Immigration has become a wedge issue in the United States, stirring fear, anxiety, and anger among Americans on both sides of the issue. Building a wall to prevent illegal immigration and restricting legal immigration are central to President Trump’s agenda. An August 2016 PEW survey showed 66% of Trump supporters viewed immigration as a “very big problem.”

Even so, polls show that most Americans favor legislation that supports a pathway to citizenship for the Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants. Although some Americans fear the negative impact of both legal and illegal immigration, others envision an America that is a haven for refugees and welcomes immigrants from all nations.

Our three-part series examined current and recent immigration enforcement policies and their impact, the effect of immigration on jobs and our economy, and what the changing demographics of the United States mean for our politics and elections.

StraightTalk is carried out annually in partnership with OLLI@Furman.