More Americans back legal pathways to reduce illegal border crossings than oppose them

Oct 1–11, 2024 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.4%Source report ↗

Core finding

A narrow majority of Americans (52%) would support expanding legal pathways into the U.S., including temporary worker programs, to curb illegal crossings at the border, with 25% backing the idea strongly.

About one-in-five (21%) would oppose it, including 15% who are strongly opposed, while a quarter (25%) stay neutral and 2% decline to answer, according to a Verasight survey conducted Oct. 1-11, 2024.

Topline scale

More Americans back legal pathways to reduce illegal border crossings than oppose them.

Would you support expanding legal pathways to enter the United States, including temporary worker programs, as a way to reduce illegal crossings at the border?

Would somewhat support
27.7%
Neutral
24.9%
Would strongly support
24.6%
Would strongly oppose
14.9%
Would somewhat oppose
6.4%
Prefer not to answer
1.6%

n = 1,000 · Oct 1–11, 2024 · MoE ±3.4%

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.
ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUS adults age 18+
Field datesOct 1–11, 2024
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.4%
Moduleeduc_pol
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Would you support expanding legal pathways to enter the United States, including temporary worker programs, as a way to reduce illegal crossings at the border?

    verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co

Cite this question

Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2024-103, fielded October 1-11, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.