Polling by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center over the past decade reveals consistent divides among whites by age, education, and income over the impact of immigrants on American society. Since 2002, Pew has tested attitudes toward immigration and demographic change by asking adults whether they agree with the following statement: "The growing number of newcomers from other countries threaten traditional American customs and values."
Percentage of non-Hispanic whites who
AGREE with the following: The growing number of newcomers from other countries threaten traditional American customs and values.
By Age By Education By Income loading Source: The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
As the chart at left shows, a majority of white seniors have agreed with that statement each time Pew has tested it since 2002. But the statement has never attracted majority support among whites younger than 30. Likewise, a majority of whites without college degrees have supported that statement all five times Pew has tested it since 2002 - but it has not won support from more than 38 percent of college-educated whites over that period.
Income shows a similar divide. More than half of whites in the bottom 50 percent of the income distribution have agreed with that sentiment each time. But it has never won majority support from more affluent whites (though it came close in 2007).
