New Poll Shows Split Attitudes Towards Arab Refugees

posted on: Jun 16, 2016

BY: ANDREW HANSEN/ Contributing Writer

On Monday, the Brookings Institute hosted a panel discussion regarding the most recent polling of American attitudes toward refugees coming from the Arab world. The speakers of the event were esteemed experts on research pertaining to public attitudes on the greater Middle East area, including: William McCants, Director of Middle East Policy Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World; Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland; and Indira Lakshmanan, Head Bureau Chief for the Boston Globe.

To begin the panel discussion, Telhami presented the most up to date poll of Americans regarding their feelings on whether America is doing too little or too much in admitting refugees from Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The results were tabulated on May 31, and included a sample size of 845 adults and 735 millenials (ages 18-35). These demographics were compared to a benchmark provided by the United States Census to better encompass the entirety of the American public. The poll conducted by the University of Maryland asked their respondents a series of related questions on their sentiments towards refugees.

The first question was direct: “Do you support the United States letting in refugees from Syria with security clearances?” The results had relayed some interesting findings:

-24% strongly supports

-35% somewhat supports

-17% opposes somewhat

-24% opposes strongly

While those who strongly support and those who strongly oppose were equal, the demographics behind the voters varied greatly. Firstly, millenials showed a much higher support for admitting refugees than adults over the age of 35. Secondly, Democrats who favor presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton displayed much greater support (77% in favor) for allowing refugees than supporters of Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump (38% in favor).

The following question was more specific, and directed towards those who were hesitant to support the incoming of more refugees. To those who opposed refugees, the second question asked: “What are the reasons why you do not support incoming refugees?”

-46% claimed terrorism as their main concern

-9% claimed they were worried about increasing the number of peaceful Muslims

-46% claimed they were worried about the financial burden adding refugees would place on the economy

This response was surprising to the speakers because the number of people citing economic burden as their reason for opposing refugees was equal to those fearing terrorism. Researchers thought terrorism would have the majority of concern.

The next question was designed to target the respondents on a more personal level, asking: “Does the United States have a moral obligation to help refugees from Syria, Iraq, or Lebanon?” The results of this question were interesting, as it encircled American attitudes on past intervention in the area. The country where America had a major intervention, Iraq, received more support. On the contrary, the country that received minimal American intervention, Syria, received less support. The question appealed to exactly how responsible Americans felt for the current role in the Arab world, and the U.S.’s overall moral obligation to solve the crisis.

Iraq- Majority polled YES, we do have an obligation to fix

Syria- Majority polled MOSTLY YES, we do have an obligation to fix

Lebanon- Majority polled NOT AS MUCH do we have an obligation to fix

While the options of three states were presented to divide Americans’ general sense of responsibility toward the regions, the demographics of this question were also interesting. The majority of Democratic respondents, followed by a smaller majority of Republican voters, answered that Iraq deserves most of America’s support, based on the history of intervention in the area. However, for Syria and Lebanon, Democrat and Republican responders varied greatly. While Democrats strongly supported U.S. obligation to help Syrians, and somewhat supported helping Lebanese refugees, Republicans presented a far weaker sense of obligation towards Syrian and Lebanese refugees, especially those who favored Trump.

This phenomenon can most likely be explained by historical trends in government policies, as seen in this upcoming election. While Democrats are more likely to support intervention and moral obligation in helping refugees, Republicans seem to support more isolationist policies, and less American involvement in foreign conflicts, such as these.

The follow-up question asked: “How many refugees should the US sponsor and resettle in 2017?” Considering that President Barack Obama allowed for only 10,000 refugees in 2016, this question was designed to ask Americans if the administration should allow more or less refugees into the country. The question was open ended, meaning that respondents were required to write in how many refugees they believed America should accept. The responses ranged as follows:

-Republican: 10,000-35,618

-Democrat: 15,000-83,309

The next question asked: “After refugees are resettled in the United States, what are the most important services we should provide them with?” Unlike some of the previous results of the survey, the responses to this question were a bit more heartening.

-Most important: 64% English Language Training

-Second Most Important: 46% Provide K-12 Education

-Least Important: 16% Computer Training Programs

While those who strongly support and those who strongly oppose were equal, the demographics behind the voters varied greatly. Firstly, millenials showed a much higher support for admitting refugees than adults over the age of 35. Secondly, Democrats who favor presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton displayed much greater support (77% in favor) for allowing refugees than supporters of Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump (38% in favor).

Lakshmanan had a few concerns regarding the demographics that weren’t considered. For example, Ms. Lakshmanan wondered if respondents knew somebody personally from the Arab world, whether they owned a passport, if they spoke more than one language, and their religious affiliations. Lakshmanan remarked that while although voting trends and age were important in the survey, she questions how results may have varied should the aforementioned questions be taken into account.

This most recent poll regarding American attitudes towards refugees conveys an important message to Arab American communities. Foremost, it signifies that the American public has some difficult choices ahead. Based on how Americans vote in November, policy decisions regarded refugees are bound to drastically affect how many Arab refugees the U.S. will accept, and what life will be like for them when they do arrive. Conflicts in the Arab world do not only directly affect those living there, but members of the diaspora living in the U.S. who yearn for change in policy toward the region. This survey asks all Americans to decide how important a personal sense of morality truly is when considering the country’s role in the refugee crisis. Based on how Americans vote in November, policy decisions regarded refugees are bound to drastically affect how many Arab refugees the U.S. will accept, and what life will be like for them when they do arrive. Conflicts in the Arab world do not only directly affect those living there, but members of the diaspora living in the U.S. who yearn for change in policy toward the region. This survey asks all Americans to decide how important a personal sense of morality truly is when considering the country’s role in the refugee crisis.