---
"title": "Majority of White Evangelicals Back Way for Unauthorized Immigrants to Stay in U.S."
"description": "Roughly six-in-ten white evangelical Christians say there should be a way for unauthorized immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally, although a majority see them as a burden."
"date": "2013-04-24"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Bruce Drake"
    "job_title": "Former Senior Editor"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/bruce-drake/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2013/04/24/majority-of-white-evangelicals-back-way-for-unauthorized-immigrants-to-stay-in-u-s/"
---

# Majority of White Evangelicals Back Way for Unauthorized Immigrants to Stay in U.S.

In recent weeks, several major news outlets — including the [New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/us/evangelical-christians-increasingly-favor-pathway-to-legal-status-for-immigrants.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0), [Wall Street Journal](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324883604578399023366575766.html) and the [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/evangelicals-see-promise-in-immigration-proposal/2013/04/18/4629f842-a85a-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html) –have carried stories about evangelical groups supporting steps to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws.

Our survey in March found that 62% of white evangelical Protestants said there should be a way for immigrants who are currently in the U.S. illegally and who meet certain requirements to stay in the country. Four-in-ten backed a path to citizenship while 24% said preferred conferring permanent residency.

However, support among white Evangelicals for allowing unauthorized immigrants to stay in the U.S. legally is lower than that of the overall public (71%) and other religious groups.

When it comes to perceptions of immigrants in general, 55% of white evangelicals believe immigrants are a burden because they take jobs, housing and health care away from current residents?, while about as many (58%) say they threaten traditional American customs and values. That compares to the overall U.S. public where, by a 49% to 41% margin, immigrants are seen as a strength to the country. The public at large also believes, by 52% to 43%, that the growing number of immigrants strengthens U.S. society rather than threatens its values. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/2013/03/28/most-say-illegal-immigrants-should-be-allowed-to-stay-but-citizenship-is-more-divisive/#religion)

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/03/3-28-13-6.png){.aligncenter width=400}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/2013/03/28/most-say-illegal-immigrants-should-be-allowed-to-stay-but-citizenship-is-more-divisive/#religion)