SLIDE 1 Am erican attitudes on refugees from the Middle East
A PUBLIC OPINION POLL BY SHIBLEY TELHAMI
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SLIDE 2 A survey sponsored by the Center for Middle East Policy’s Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World at The Brookings Institution and Sadat Chair for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland fielded by Nielsen Scarborough
Valuable assistance was provided by The Program for Public Consultation, especially its director Steven Kull, Evan Lewis, and Clay Ramsay. Neil Schwartz, Scott Willoth, and Jordan Evangelista from Nielsen Scarborough also provided assistance. Brittany Kyser, Shaqaiq Birashk, and Cameron Zotter were particularly helpful.
SLIDE 3 Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted May 20-31, 2016 with a panel consisting of a probability-based representative sample. The panel was recruited by Nielsen Scarborough from its larger probability-based national panel, which was recruited by mail and telephone using a random sample of households provided by Survey Sampling International. A total of 1580 panelists completed the survey including a national sample of 845 adults, plus an oversample of 735 millennials (18-34), making for a total sample of millennials of 863. Responses were weighted by age, gender, income, education, race, and geographic region using benchmarks from the US Census. The survey was also weighted by partisan identification and millennials were down-weighted consistent with these groups’ incidence rate in the U.S. Census. The margins of error for the national sample and for each subgroup is: National – 845 respondents, MoE: 3.4% Millennials – 863, MoE: 3.3%
SLIDE 4 As you m ay know, since 20 0 1 the United States has adm itted about 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 persons with refugee status from around the world, or about 50 ,0 0 0 people a year on average. In U.S. law, a refugee is a person who is already living outside their own country because of a “well-founded fear of persecution.” This definition can include those fleeing civil war in their hom e country. It excludes those who “participated in the persecution of any person on account
- f race, religion, nationality, m em bership in a particular social group, or
political opinion.” Those applying as refugees for asylum in the U.S. are investigated by various arm s of the U.S. governm ent. This process takes about two years. In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks?
SLIDE 5 24% 35% 17% 24%
Support Strongly Support som ewhat Oppose som ewhat Oppose strongly
In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks?
SLIDE 6 30 % 38 % 18 % 14% 20 % 36% 19% 25% 24% 31% 14% 31%
Support strongly Support som ewhat Oppose som ewhat Oppose strongly
In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks?
18 -34 35-54 55+
SLIDE 7 10 % 28 % 20 % 43% 36% 41% 15% 8 % 24% 32% 16% 26% Support strongly Support som ewhat Oppose som ewhat Oppose strongly In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks? Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 8 4% 18 % 21% 56% 38 % 42% 14% 5% 44% 37% 13% 7% Support strongly Support som ewhat Oppose som ewhat Oppose strongly In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 9
Assum ing extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?
SLIDE 10 56% 43%
Yes No Assum ing extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?
SLIDE 11 67% 32% 54% 45% 49% 50 % Yes No
Assum ing extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?
18 -34 35-54 55+
SLIDE 12 38 % 61% 73% 27% 49% 47%
Yes No Assum ing extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 13 23% 76% 76% 23% 76% 24% Yes No
Assum ing extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 14
[Am ong those opposing absorbing refugees]
Which of the following concerns you m ost about absorbing refugees?
SLIDE 15 46% 9% 41% 4% I'm concerned about terrorism I'm concerned about having m ore Muslim s in the U.S., even if they are peaceful I'm concerned about the econom ic burden of absorbing refugees of any kind Other
[Am ong those opposing absorbing refugees] Which of the following concerns you m ost about absorbing refugees?
SLIDE 16 50 % 8 % 38 % 3% 41% 11% 41% 5% 35% 4% 52% 8 % I'm concerned about terrorism I'm concerned about having m ore Muslim s in the U.S., even if they are peaceful I'm concerned about the econom ic burden of absorbing refugees of any kind Other
[Am ong those opposing absorbing refugees] Which of the following concerns you m ost about absorbing refugees?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 17 52% 8 % 37% 3% 28 % 17% 49% 4% 44% 7% 37% 9%
I'm concerned about terrorism I'm concerned about having m ore Muslim s in the U.S., even if they are peaceful I'm concerned about the econom ic burden of absorbing refugees of any kind Other
[Am ong those opposing absorbing refugees] Which of the following concerns you m ost about absorbing refugees?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 18
Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept m ore refugees, does the U.S. have a m oral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Libya, Iraq, and Syria)?
SLIDE 19 50 % 45% 48 % 49% 54% 51%
Libya Iraq Syria Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept m ore refugees, does the U.S. have a m oral obligation to help refugees from the following countries?
No Obligation Som e or High Obligation
SLIDE 20 77% 22% 33% 66% 33% 66% No Obligation Som e or High Obligation
Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept m ore refugees, does the U.S. have a m oral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Libya)?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 21 69% 30 % 32% 67% 29% 70 % No Obligation Som e or High Obligation
Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept m ore refugees, does the U.S. have a m oral
- bligation to help refugees from the following
countries (Iraq)?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 22 74% 26% 31% 66% 32% 67% No Obligation Som e or High Obligation
Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept m ore refugees, does the U.S. have a m oral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Syria)?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 23
How m uch of a role do you believe the 20 0 3 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the em ergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?
SLIDE 24 56% 31% 11%
Significant Role Sm all Role No Role How m uch of a role do you believe the 20 0 3 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the em ergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?
SLIDE 25 44% 37% 18 % 67% 25% 6% 53% 33% 13% Significant Role Sm all Role No Role
How m uch of a role do you believe the 20 0 3 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the em ergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 26 42% 37% 19% 68 % 25% 4% 69% 23% 7% Significant Role Sm all Role No Role
How m uch of a role do you believe the 20 0 3 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the em ergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 27
[Open Ended Question] How m any refugees should the U.S. sponsor and resettle in 20 17?
SLIDE 28 35618 64475 8 330 9 58 928 10 0 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 10 0 0 0
Republican Dem ocrat Independent Total
Mean (top num ber) Median (bottom num ber) [Open Ended Question] How m any refugees should the U.S. sponsor and resettle in 20 17?
SLIDE 29
In your estim ation, how m any refugees have been arrested in the United States since 9/ 11 over terrorism charges?
SLIDE 30 14% 26% 30 % 28 %
Fewer than 5 Fewer than 25 Fewer than 10 0 10 0 or m ore
In your estim ation, how m any refugees have been arrested in the United States since 9/ 11
SLIDE 31 7% 21% 34% 36% 19% 30 % 27% 23% 18 % 24% 31% 25%
Fewer than 5 Fewer than 25 Fewer than 10 0 10 0 or m ore
In your estim ation, how m any refugees have been arrested in the United States since 9/ 11
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 32 Here are som e ways the U.S. m ight
- respond. Please tell us whether you
support or oppose the following m easures: The U.S. governm ent should take in m ore [war] refugees, allowing them into the U.S.
SLIDE 33 47% 60 % 60 % 79%
The U.S. governm ent should take in m ore [war] refugees to the U.S. Individuals and com m unity groups should sponsor m ore refugeees in the U.S. The U.S. should give financial support to charities helping refugees abroad The U.S. should send hum anitarian professionals to help refugees abroad
Percentage of Am ericans who support each of the following responses to the refugee issue
SLIDE 34
If som e of these Syrian refugees cam e to live in your state or com m unity, do you think they would be welcom ed?
SLIDE 35 55% 44% Yes No
If som e of these Syrian refugees cam e to live in your state or com m unity, do you think they would be welcom ed?
SLIDE 36 56% 44% 61% 38 % 48 % 51%
Yes No
If som e of these Syrian refugees cam e to live in your state or com m unity, do you think they would be welcom ed?
18 -34 35-54 55+
SLIDE 37 48 % 51% 61% 39% 52% 46% Yes No
If som e of these Syrian refugees cam e to live in your state or com m unity, do you think they would be welcom ed?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 38
As you m ay know, Am erican laws prohibit discrim inating against people including refugees solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be m ore or less accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?
SLIDE 39 15% 13% 72% More Less The Sam e
As you m ay know, Am erican laws prohibit discrim inating against people including refugees solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious
- background. Does this incline you to be m ore or less
accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?
SLIDE 40 8 % 19% 72% 22% 7% 71% 8 % 14% 78 % More Less The Sam e
As you m ay know, Am erican laws prohibit discrim inating against people including refugees solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be m ore or less accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 41
If the U.S. institutes a refugee policy excluding single m en, would you support the U.S. accepting m ore refugees?
SLIDE 42 28 % 70 %
Yes No
If the U.S. institutes a refugee policy excluding single m en, would you support the U.S. accepting m ore refugees?
SLIDE 43 26% 73% 32% 66% 24% 75% Yes No
If the U.S. institutes a refugee policy excluding single m en, would you support the U.S. accepting m ore refugees?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 44
Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response to the m igrant crisis?
SLIDE 45 20 % 36% 17% 26%
European nations are doing too m uch as it is European nations are doing as m uch as can be expected European nations should be doing m ore Don't know/ Can't say Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response to the m igrant crisis?
SLIDE 46 33% 32% 10 % 23% 9% [VALUE] 22% 26% 17% 27% 20 % 37%
European nations are doing too m uch as it is European nations are doing as m uch as can be expected European nations should be doing m ore Don't know/ Can't say
Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response to the m igrant crisis?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 47
How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
SLIDE 48 76% 21%
Welcom e them and help absorb them into Am erican society Expel them
How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
SLIDE 49 8 3% 16% 73% 24% 73% 23%
Welcom e them and help absorb them into Am erican society Expel them
How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
18 -34 35-54 55+
SLIDE 50 60 % 36% 90 % 9% 74% 21% Welcom e them and help absorb them into Am erican society Expel them
How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 51 46% 48 % 91% 8 % 91% 9% Welcom e them and help absorb them into Am erican society Expel them
How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 52 67% 10 % 9% 14% Donald Trum p Supporters Hillary Clinton Supporters Bernie Sanders Supporters None appeal to m e
[Am ong those who said “Expel them ”] How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already in the country?
SLIDE 53 Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslim s entering the United States until
- ur country’s representatives
can figure out what is going on?’
SLIDE 54 38 % 61%
Yes No Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslim s entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on?’
SLIDE 55 25% 74% 40 % 60 % 48 % 52%
Yes No
18 -34 35-54 55+
Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslim s entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on?’
SLIDE 56 61% 38 % 19% 8 1% 39% 59%
Yes No
Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslim s entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on?’
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 57 8 0 % 20 % 14% 8 6% 17% 8 2% Yes No
Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslim s entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on?’
Those Favoring Donald Trum p Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders
SLIDE 58 Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs
- f refugees once they are in the
United States?
SLIDE 59 29% 17% 52% Federal governm ent States Charities and other non- governm ental organizations
Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees once they are in the United States?
SLIDE 60 17% 19% 62% 41% 13% 45% 26% 24% 48 %
Federal governm ent States Charities and other non- governm ental organizations
Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees
- nce they are in the United States?
Republican Dem ocrat Independent
SLIDE 61
One a scale of 0 -5, where 0 is “not im portant” and 5 is “very im portant,” how would you rate the following steps to deal with the Syrian refugees once they arrive?
SLIDE 62 16% 25% 27% 31% 33% 46% 64%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Com puter Training Program Wellness Program Im m igration Assistance Program Resettlem ent Services Job Readiness and Placem ent Services Provide K-12 Education English Language Traning
Ranking of responses indicating “very im portant” when asked: How would you rate the following steps to deal with the Syrian refugees once they arrive?
SLIDE 63
On a scale of 0 -10 , where 0 is “not being open” and 10 is “being very open,” rate your degree of openness for refugees from the following region (South Am erica, Central Am erica, Africa, The Middle East, East Asia):
SLIDE 64 4.8 3 5.68 5.71 5.8 4 5.96
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The Middle East East Asia Africa Central Am erica South Am erica On a scale of 0 -10 , where 0 is “not being open” and 10 is “being very open,” rate your degree
- f openness for refugees from the following
region (m ean):
