![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-1.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n(28%) the immigration bill before Congress, but fully 38% say they don\u2019t know what they think of the legislation.<\/p>\n\n
At this early stage of debate, the public does not think the bill would have a major impact on the nation\u2019s economy or security. About half say either that the immigration bill would not make much of a difference for the economy (35%) or that they don\u2019t know how the bill would affect the economy (17%). An even greater percentage says the bill would have no impact on the country\u2019s safety from terrorism (57%) or that they don\u2019t know how the country\u2019s security would be affected (16%).<\/p>\n\n
The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted April 25-28 among 1,003 adults, finds that most do not think the Boston Marathon bombings should be an important factor in the debate over immigration legislation. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) say the Boston attack and the immigration debate are mostly separate issues, while 36% say the attack should be an important factor in the debate.<\/p>\n\n
Overall, the debate over immigration policy has drawn little public attention. Just 19% say they are following the story very closely. And most Americans are unaware of some of the legislation\u2019s visible aspects.<\/p>\n\n
Fewer than half (46%) know that the bill would allow unauthorized immigrants to stay in the country while applying for citizenship. And just 37% know that it was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators.<\/p>\n\n
Views of Immigration Bill<\/h3>\n\n![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nTwice as many Democrats favor (44%) as oppose (22%) the immigration bill currently being debated in Congress, while 33% do not offer an opinion. Republicans are divided with 30% in favor, 34% opposed and 36% not offering an opinion. Independents also are split (28% favor, 31% oppose, 40% don\u2019t know).<\/p>\n\n
Notably, independents who lean to the Republican Party express more opposition to the bill than do self-identified Republicans. About half of Republican-leaning independents (51%) oppose the immigration bill while just 19% favor it.<\/p>\n\n
College graduates support the immigration bill by roughly two-to-one (44% to 21%). Those with lower levels of education are divided over the legislation.<\/p>\n\n
Blacks offer more support (42%) than opposition (22%) to the bill, while 36% offer no opinion. By contrast, whites are divided: 28% favor the proposal, 31% oppose it and 41% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n
Immigration Bill Seen as Having Limited Impact<\/h3>\n\n
The public does not think the immigration bill before Congress would have a major impact on the economy or the country\u2019s safety from terrorism.<\/p>\n\n
When asked how the immigration bill would impact the U.S. economy, as many say it would help the economy (24%) as hurt the economy (23%). A 35% plurality says the bill <\/p>\n\n![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-3.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nwouldn\u2019t make much difference for the economy and 17% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n
In addition, 57% do not think the bill would have an effect on the country\u2019s safety from terrorism. Those who see a potential impact are divided over whether the bill would make the country safer (14%) or less safe (13%); 16% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n
There are modest partisan differences in these opinions. Overall, somewhat more Democrats say the bill would help (33%) rather than hurt (18%) the U.S. economy, while about a third (34%) say it wouldn\u2019t make much difference. About as many Republicans say the bill would hurt (25%) as help (21%) the economy, while 36% say it wouldn\u2019t make much difference. Independents\u2019 views are similar to those of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n
Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that the immigration bill would make the country less safe from terrorism (20% vs. 8%). But a plurality of Republicans (46%), and majorities of Democrats (62%) and independents (61%), say the bill wouldn\u2019t have much of an effect on the country\u2019s safety from terrorism.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>Boston Attack, Immigration Debate Seen as Separate Issues<\/h3>\n\nWhile there has been discussion in Washington about whether the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon should impact the debate over immigration, a majority of the public sees the <\/p>\n\n![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-4.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\ntwo as separate issues. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) say the bombings and debate over the immigration bill are mostly separate issues, while 36% say the Boston bombings should be an important factor in the debate.<\/p>\n\n
Most independents (62%) and Democrats (59%) see the Boston bombings and immigration debate as separate. Republicans are somewhat more divided: 50% say they are separate issues, 46% say the bombings should be an important factor in the immigration debate.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>Most Don\u2019t Know Key Facts about Bill<\/h3>\n\nMost Americans don\u2019t know that the immigration bill before Congress was introduced by a group of Republican and Democratic senators <\/p>\n\n![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-5.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nor that the bill stipulates that unauthorized immigrants be allowed to stay in the country while applying for citizenship.<\/p>\n\n
About four-in-ten (37%) correctly say that the bill was introduced by a mix of Republican and Democratic senators; 47% volunteer that they don\u2019t know who introduced the bill, while 9% say it was introduced by a group of Democrats and 7% say it was introduced by a group of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n
Only somewhat more (46%) know that the bill allows unauthorized immigrants to stay in the country while applying for citizenship, 16% think unauthorized immigrants must return to their home country before applying and 37% don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n
Just 24% of the public correctly answered both knowledge questions, 35% got one question correct while 41% answered neither question correctly.<\/p>\n\n
Support for Bill among Knowledgeable<\/h3>\n\n
People who are relatively knowledgeable about the immigration bill \u2013 those able to answer both questions <\/p>\n\n![\"5-1-13](\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/05\/5-1-13-6.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\ncorrectly \u2013 favor the legislation by 50% to 33%. Those less knowledgeable are more evenly divided.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nTwice as many Democrats favor (44%) as oppose (22%) the immigration bill currently being debated in Congress, while 33% do not offer an opinion. Republicans are divided with 30% in favor, 34% opposed and 36% not offering an opinion. Independents also are split (28% favor, 31% oppose, 40% don\u2019t know).<\/p>\n\n
Notably, independents who lean to the Republican Party express more opposition to the bill than do self-identified Republicans. About half of Republican-leaning independents (51%) oppose the immigration bill while just 19% favor it.<\/p>\n\n
College graduates support the immigration bill by roughly two-to-one (44% to 21%). Those with lower levels of education are divided over the legislation.<\/p>\n\n
Blacks offer more support (42%) than opposition (22%) to the bill, while 36% offer no opinion. By contrast, whites are divided: 28% favor the proposal, 31% oppose it and 41% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n
Immigration Bill Seen as Having Limited Impact<\/h3>\n\n
The public does not think the immigration bill before Congress would have a major impact on the economy or the country\u2019s safety from terrorism.<\/p>\n\n
When asked how the immigration bill would impact the U.S. economy, as many say it would help the economy (24%) as hurt the economy (23%). A 35% plurality says the bill <\/p>\n\n wouldn\u2019t make much difference for the economy and 17% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n In addition, 57% do not think the bill would have an effect on the country\u2019s safety from terrorism. Those who see a potential impact are divided over whether the bill would make the country safer (14%) or less safe (13%); 16% do not offer an opinion.<\/p>\n\n There are modest partisan differences in these opinions. Overall, somewhat more Democrats say the bill would help (33%) rather than hurt (18%) the U.S. economy, while about a third (34%) say it wouldn\u2019t make much difference. About as many Republicans say the bill would hurt (25%) as help (21%) the economy, while 36% say it wouldn\u2019t make much difference. Independents\u2019 views are similar to those of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that the immigration bill would make the country less safe from terrorism (20% vs. 8%). But a plurality of Republicans (46%), and majorities of Democrats (62%) and independents (61%), say the bill wouldn\u2019t have much of an effect on the country\u2019s safety from terrorism.<\/p>\n\n While there has been discussion in Washington about whether the terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon should impact the debate over immigration, a majority of the public sees the <\/p>\n\n two as separate issues. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) say the bombings and debate over the immigration bill are mostly separate issues, while 36% say the Boston bombings should be an important factor in the debate.<\/p>\n\n Most independents (62%) and Democrats (59%) see the Boston bombings and immigration debate as separate. Republicans are somewhat more divided: 50% say they are separate issues, 46% say the bombings should be an important factor in the immigration debate.<\/p>\n\n Most Americans don\u2019t know that the immigration bill before Congress was introduced by a group of Republican and Democratic senators <\/p>\n\n or that the bill stipulates that unauthorized immigrants be allowed to stay in the country while applying for citizenship.<\/p>\n\n About four-in-ten (37%) correctly say that the bill was introduced by a mix of Republican and Democratic senators; 47% volunteer that they don\u2019t know who introduced the bill, while 9% say it was introduced by a group of Democrats and 7% say it was introduced by a group of Republicans.<\/p>\n\n Only somewhat more (46%) know that the bill allows unauthorized immigrants to stay in the country while applying for citizenship, 16% think unauthorized immigrants must return to their home country before applying and 37% don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n Just 24% of the public correctly answered both knowledge questions, 35% got one question correct while 41% answered neither question correctly.<\/p>\n\n People who are relatively knowledgeable about the immigration bill \u2013 those able to answer both questions <\/p>\n\n correctly \u2013 favor the legislation by 50% to 33%. Those less knowledgeable are more evenly divided.<\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n<\/a>Boston Attack, Immigration Debate Seen as Separate Issues<\/h3>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n<\/a>Most Don\u2019t Know Key Facts about Bill<\/h3>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nSupport for Bill among Knowledgeable<\/h3>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n