Public Sector Consultants’ quarterly public opinion poll asked several questions on the topic of immigration. The poll, which ran September 11–13, is the second installment of an effort by PSC to gauge public opinion on behalf of its clients.
“We were finding among our colleagues and also with our clients that there was a need for more timely and relevant information,” says Craig Wiles, senior consultant at PSC. “More timely in the sense that we would like to be a little ahead of the curve on certain issues.”
According to the poll, Michigan voters were evenly split on whether the United States had a moral obligation to offer asylum to those fleeing violence or political persecution, with 42 percent saying yes and 44 percent saying no. Younger voters had significantly different opinions, with 58 percent saying yes, compared to just 36 percent of those 50 or older.
Moral Obligation
Does the United States have a moral obligation to offer asylum to people who come to the U.S. to escape violence or political persecution in their home country?
About half (46 percent) of Michigan voters feel that Michigan is no more or less tolerant than the U.S. as a whole, with 31 percent saying Michigan is more tolerant and 10 percent less tolerant. Republicans (55 percent) are most likely to say Michigan is on par with the rest of the country (compared to 40 percent of Democrats), while 46 percent of younger voters are most likely to say Michigan is more tolerant (compared to 26 percent of those age 50 or older).
Tolerance
In general, do you think Michigan is more tolerant and welcoming, less tolerant and welcoming, or no different than the U.S. as a whole toward new immigrants?
About half (46 percent) of Michigan voters feel that Michigan is no more or less tolerant than the U.S. as a whole, with 31 percent saying Michigan is more tolerant and 10 percent less tolerant. Republicans (55 percent) are most likely to say Michigan is on par with the rest of the country (compared to 40 percent of Democrats), while 46 percent of younger voters are most likely to say Michigan is more tolerant (compared to 26 percent of those age 50 or older).
Impact on Michigan
On balance, do you think immigration of people from other countries to Michigan in recent years has been good for the state, bad for the state, or hasn’t made much of a difference?
As for immigration’s impact on the state, about half of Michigan voters (44 percent) feel that immigration hasn’t made much of a difference, with 26 percent saying it has been bad and 20 percent good. Democrats (28 percent) and younger voters (26 percent) were more likely to think immigration was good for Michigan, compared to 17 percent of voters age 65 or older and 15 percent of Republicans.
Medicaid
Currently, immigrant children who legally migrate to the United States are not eligible to receive Medicaid services until five years after becoming a permanent resident of the U.S. Michigan has the option of expanding its Medicaid program to cover these children right away, with the federal government funding at least two-thirds of the increased cost. Do you favor or oppose expanding Medicaid coverage to children who are legal immigrants?
A slight majority (54 percent support, 39 percent oppose) favor expanding Michigan’s existing Medicaid program to immigrant children who have legally migrated to Michigan with their families. More Democrats (68 percent) than Republicans (40 percent) favored the expansion, as did younger voters (74 percent) compared to voters age 50 and over (48 percent).