American attitudes on refugees from the Middle East

American attitudes on refugees from the Middle

East

A PUBLIC OPINION POLL BY SHIBLEY TELHAMI .

A survey sponsored by the

Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World at

The Brookings Institution

and

Sadat Chair

for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland

fielded by

Nielsen Scarborough

Valuable assistance was provided by The Program for Public Consultation, especially its director Steven Kull, Evan Lewis, and Clay Ramsay. Neil Schwartz,

Scott Willoth, and Jordan Evangelista from Nielsen Scarborough also provided assistance. Brittany Kyser, Shaqaiq Birashk, and Cameron Zotter were particularly helpful.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted May 20-31, 2016 with a panel consisting of a probability-based representative sample. The panel was recruited by

Nielsen Scarborough from its larger probability-based national panel, which was recruited by mail and telephone using a random sample of

households provided by Survey Sampling International. A total of 1580 panelists completed the survey including a national sample of 845

adults, plus an oversample of 735 millennials (18-34), making for a total sample of millennials of 863. Responses were weighted by age, gender, income, education, race, and geographic region using benchmarks from the US Census. The survey was also weighted by partisan identification

and millennials were down-weighted consistent with these groups’ incidence rate in the U.S. Census. The margins of error for the national

sample and for each subgroup is: National – 845 respondents, MoE: 3.4% Millennials – 863, MoE: 3.3%

As you may know, since 2001 the United States has admitted about 800,000 persons with refugee status from around the world, or about 50,000 people a

year on average. In U.S. law, a refugee is a person who is already living outside their own country because of a “well-founded fear of persecution.” This definition can include those fleeing civil war in their home country. It

excludes those who “participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.” Those applying as refugees for asylum in the U.S. are

investigated by various arms of the U.S. government. This process takes about two years.

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them

for security risks?

24%

35%

17%

24%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern

countries after screening them for security risks?

30%

38%

18%

14%

20%

36%

19%

25%

24%

31%

14%

31%

Support strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle

Eastern countries after screening them for security risks?

18-34 35-54 55+

10%

28%

20%

43%

36%

41%

15%

8%

24%

32%

16%

26%

Support strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly


countries after screening them for security risks?

Republican Democrat Independent

4%

18%

21%

56%

38%

42%

14%

5%

44%

37%

13%

7%

Support strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly


countries after screening them for security risks? Those Favoring Donald Trump Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders

16%

32%

20%

31%

24%

38%

17%

21%

32%

30%

14%

23%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

I don't know any I know some but not very well I know some very well

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks? [Crossed with question: In your

life, how familiar are you with people who are Muslim?]

16%

32%

20%

31%

26%

36%

16%

22%

Support Strongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

Know None Know Some

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after

screening them for security risks? [Crossed with question: In your life, how familiar are you with people who are Muslim?]

27%

33%

18%

22%

18%

38%

16%

28%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Yes No

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other

Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks? [Crossed with question: Do you have an

American passport?]

28%

35%

17%

19%

23%

34%

17%

25%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Yes No

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them for security risks? [Crossed with question: Are you conversant in any language other than English?]

30%

36%

16%

18%

21%

33%

18%

27%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Yes No

In general, do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries after screening them

for security risks? [Crossed with question: Do you have relatives, including distant relatives, who reside outside of the United States?]

Assuming extensive background

checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the U.S.

accept refugees from Syria specifically?

56%

43%

Yes

No

Assuming extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not

terrorist links, should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?

67%

32%

54%

45%

49%

50%

Yes

No

Assuming extensive background checks are in place to ensure there are not terrorist links, should the

U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?

18-34 35-54 55+

38%

61%

73%

27%

49%

47%

Yes

No


U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically?


23%

76%

76%

23%

76%

24%

Yes

No


U.S. accept refugees from Syria specifically? Those Favoring Donald Trump Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders

[Among those opposing absorbing refugees]

Which of the following concerns

you most about absorbing refugees?

46%

9%

41%

4%

I'm concerned about terrorism

I'm concerned about having moreMuslims in the U.S., even if they are

peaceful

I'm concerned about the economicburden of absorbing refugees of any

kind

Other


Which of the following concerns you most about absorbing refugees?

55%

10%

29%

6%

42%

7%

48%

3%

43%

10%

41%

4%



peaceful


kind

Other



18-34 35-54 55+

50%

8%

38%

3%

41%

11%

41%

5%

35%

4%

52%

8%


I'm concerned about having moreMuslims in the U.S., even if they

are peaceful

I'm concerned about the economicburden of absorbing refugees of

any kind

Other




52%

8%

37%

3%

28%

17%

49%

4%

44%

7%

37%

9%



peaceful


kind

Other



Those Favoring Donald Trump Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders

Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S. have a moral obligation to help refugees from the following countries

(Libya, Iraq, and Syria)?

50%

45%

48%

49%

54%

51%

Libya

Iraq

Syria

Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S. have a moral obligation to help refugees from the

following countries?

No Obligation Some or High Obligation

66%

33%

36%

63%

51%

49%

No Obligation

Some or High Obligation


following countries (Libya)?


56%

43%

35%

64%

47%

52%

No Obligation


Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S. have a moral

obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Iraq)?


64%

35%

34%

64%

48%

52%

No Obligation


Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S.

have a moral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Syria)?


39%

60%

51%

48%

59%

41%

No Obligation



have a moral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Libya)?

18-34 35-54 55+

38%

61%

46%

54%

50%

50%

No Obligation



have a moral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Iraq)?

18-34 35-54 55+

38%

60%

48%

50%

55%

45%

No Obligation



have a moral obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Syria)?

18-34 35-54 55+

77%

22%

33%

66%

33%

66%

No Obligation



following countries (Libya)? Those Favoring Donald Trump Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders

69%

30%

32%

67%

29%

70%

No Obligation


Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S. have a moral

obligation to help refugees from the following countries (Iraq)?


74%

26%

31%

66%

32%

67%

No Obligation


Apart from the question of whether U.S. should accept more refugees, does the U.S. have a moral obligation to

help refugees from the following countries (Syria)?


How much of a role do you believe the 2003 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the emergence of the refugee

crisis in Syria?

56%

31%

11%

SignificantRole

Small Role

No Role

How much of a role do you believe the 2003 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the

emergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?

53%

35%

10%

54%

34%

11%

60%

25%

14%

Significant Role

Small Role

No Role

How much of a role do you believe the 2003 Iraq War has played in the events leading to the emergence of the refugee crisis in Syria?

18-34 35-54 55+

44%

37%

18%

67%

25%

6%

53%

33%

13%

Significant Role

Small Role

No Role



42%

37%

19%

68%

25%

4%

69%

23%

7%

Significant Role

Small Role

No Role



[Open Ended Question] How many refugees should the

U.S. sponsor and resettle in 2017?

35618

64475

83309

58928

10000

15000

15000

10000

Republican

Democrat

Independent

Total

Mean (top number) Median (bottom number)

[Open Ended Question] How many refugees should the U.S. sponsor and resettle in 2017?

In your estimation, how many refugees have been arrested in the

United States since 9/11 over terrorism charges?

14%

26%

30%

28%

Fewer than 5

Fewer than 25

Fewer than 100

100 or more

In your estimation, how many refugees have been arrested in the United States since 9/11

over terrorism charges?

21%

29%

27%

22%

15%

25%

31%

29%

8%

24%

32%

33%

Fewer than 5

Fewer than 25

Fewer than 100

100 or more



18-34 35-54 55+

7%

21%

34%

36%

19%

30%

27%

23%

18%

24%

31%

25%

Fewer than 5

Fewer than 25

Fewer than 100

100 or more




Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you

support or oppose the following measures:

The U.S. government should take in

more [war] refugees, allowing them into the U.S.

47%

60%

60%

79%

The U.S. government should take inmore [war] refugees to the U.S.

Individuals and community groupsshould sponsor more refugeees in the

U.S.

The U.S. should give financial support tocharities helping refugees abroad

The U.S. should send humanitarianprofessionals to help refugees abroad

Percentage of Americans who support each of the following responses to the refugee issue

18%

29%

23%

29%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following

measures: The U.S. government should take in more [war]

refugees, allowing them into the U.S.

23%

35%

23%

18%

15%

26%

25%

32%

17%

26%

20%

37%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following

measures: The U.S. government should take in more [war]

refugees, allowing them into the U.S.

18-34 35-54 55+

5%

20%

26%

49%

29%

35%

21%

13%

19%

32%

17%

30%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following measures:

The U.S. government should take in more [war] refugees, allowing them into the U.S.


U.S. individuals and community groups

(e.g. churches) should sponsor more refugees, helping them with funds and

assistance to settle in the U.S.

24%

36%

16%

22%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following measures: U.S. individuals and community groups (e.g. churches)

should sponsor more refugees, helping them with funds and assistance to settle in the U.S.

30%

40%

15%

13%

18%

37%

18%

26%

24%

33%

16%

25%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following measures: U.S. individuals and community groups (e.g. churches)

should sponsor more refugees, helping them with funds and assistance to settle in the U.S.

18-34 35-54 55+

13%

34%

18%

33%

33%

40%

14%

11%

21%

30%

20%

28%

Support Strongly

Support somewhat

Oppose somewhat

Oppose strongly

Here are some ways the U.S. might respond. Please tell us whether you support or oppose the following measures:

U.S. individuals and community groups (e.g. churches) should sponsor more refugees, helping them with funds and assistance

to settle in the U.S. Republican Democrat Independent

The U.S. should offer financial support

to charities who are helping refugees abroad.

22%

38%

20%

19%

Support Strongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should offer financial support to charities who are

helping refugees abroad.

23%

40%

21%

15%

20%

37%

21%

20%

22%

39%

18%

20%

Support Stongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should offer financial support to charities who are

helping refugees abroad.

18-34 35-54 55+

15%

42%

19%

23%

28%

38%

22%

11%

21%

30%

15%

33%

Support Stongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should offer financial support to charities who are helping refugees

abroad. Republican Democrat Independent

The U.S. should send professionals in

humanitarianism work, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers to help refugees in

camps abroad.

34%

45%

12%

7%

Support Stongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should send professionals in humanitarianism work, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers to help

refugees in camps abroad.

37%

41%

15%

6%

33%

47%

9%

9%

33%

48%

11%

7%

Support Stongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should send professionals in humanitarianism work, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers to help refugees in camps abroad.

18-34 35-54 55+

28%

50%

11%

10%

40%

43%

12%

3%

31%

41%

12%

15%

Support Stongly

Support Somewhat

Oppose Somewhat

Oppose Strongly

The U.S. should send professionals in humanitarianism work, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers to help refugees in

camps abroad.


If some of these Syrian refugees came to live in your state or

community, do you think they would be welcomed?

55%

44%

Yes

No

If some of these Syrian refugees came to live in your state or community, do you think they would be welcomed?

56%

44%

61%

38%

48%

51%

Yes

No

If some of these Syrian refugees came to live in your state or community, do you think they would be welcomed?

18-34 35-54 55+

48%

51%

61%

39%

52%

46%

Yes

No

If some of these Syrian refugees came to live in your state or community, do you

think they would be welcomed?


As you may know, American laws prohibit discriminating against people including

refugees solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be more or less accepting of Syrian refugees in

the U.S.?

15%

13%

72%

More

Less

The Same

As you may know, American laws prohibit discriminating against people including refugees

solely on the basis of their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be more or less

accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?

17%

9%

74%

14%

15%

71%

14%

14%

72%

More

Less

The Same

As you may know, American laws prohibit discriminating against people including refugees solely on the basis of

their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be more or less accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?

18-34 35-54 55+

8%

19%

72%

22%

7%

71%

8%

14%

78%

More

Less

The Same

As you may know, American laws prohibit discriminating against people including refugees solely on the basis of

their ethnic or religious background. Does this incline you to be more or less accepting of Syrian refugees in the U.S.?


If the U.S. institutes a refugee policy excluding single men, would you support the U.S. accepting more refugees?

28%

70%

Yes

No

If the U.S. institutes a refugee policy excluding single men, would you support

the U.S. accepting more refugees?

37%

62%

24%

75%

25%

72%

Yes

No


the U.S. accepting more refugees?

18-34 35-54 55+

26%

73%

32%

66%

24%

75%

Yes

No


the U.S. accepting more refugees? Republican Democrat Independent

Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you

think about Europe’s response to the migrant crisis?

20%

36%

17%

26%

European nations are doing toomuch as it is

European nations are doing asmuch as can be expected

European nations should bedoing more

Don't know/Can't say

Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response

to the migrant crisis?

13%

33%

21%

32%

19%

37%

16%

27%

27%

38%

14%

21%

European nations are doing toomuch as it is

European nations are doing asmuch as can be expected

European nations should be doingmore


Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response to the

migrant crisis?

18-34 35-54 55+

33%

32%

10%

23%

9%

[VALUE]

22%

26%

17%

27%

20%

37%

European nations are doing too much as it is

European nations are doing as much as canbe expected

European nations should be doing more


Based on what you’ve seen, heard or read, what do you think about Europe’s response

to the migrant crisis?


How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian

refugees who are already in the country?

76%

21%

Welcome them and help absorbthem into American society

Expel them

How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already

in the country?

83%

16%

73%

24%

73%

23%


Expel them

How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are already

in the country?

18-34 35-54 55+

60%

36%

90%

9%

74%

21%


Expel them

How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are

already in the country?


46%

48%

91%

8%

91%

9%


Expel them

How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian refugees who are

already in the country? Those Favoring Donald Trump Those Favoring Hillary Clinton Those Favoring Bernie Sanders

67%

10%

9%

14%

Donald Trump Supporters

Hillary Clinton Supporters

Bernie Sanders Supporters

None appeal to me

[Among those who said “Expel them”] How do you think the U.S. should deal with the Syrian

refugees who are already in the country?

Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives

can figure out what is going on?’

38%

61%

Yes

No

Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslims entering the United

States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on?’

25%

74%

40%

60%

48%

52%

Yes

No

18-34 35-54 55+

Do you support the proposal ‘for a total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s

representatives can figure out what is going on?’

61%

38%

19%

81%

39%

59%

Yes

No




80%

20%

14%

86%

17%

82%

Yes

No




Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees once they are in the

United States?

29%

17%

52%

Federal government

States

Charities and other non-governmental organizations

Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees once

they are in the United States?

35%

17%

47%

29%

20%

50%

25%

15%

59%

Federal government

States


Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees once

they are in the United States? 18-34 35-54 55+

17%

19%

62%

41%

13%

45%

26%

24%

48%

Federal government

States


Who would you like to see take the lead in addressing the needs of refugees once they are in the United States?


One a scale of 0-5, where 0 is “not important” and 5 is “very

important,” how would you rate the following steps to deal with the Syrian refugees once they

arrive?

11%

6%

10%

22%

18%

31%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Resettlement Services

10%

4%

8%

19%

24%

33%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Job Readiness and Placement Services

5%

2%

3%

8%

17%

64%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

English Language Training

12%

7%

11%

21%

20%

27%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Immigration Assistance Program

16%

9%

15%

25%

16%

16%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Computer Training Program

11%

6%

11%

24%

20%

25%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Wellness Program

9%

4%

6%

14%

17%

46%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

0- Not Important

1

2

3

4

5- Very Important

Provide K-12 Education

16%

25% 27% 31% 33%

46%

64%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

ComputerTrainingProgram

WellnessProgram

ImmigrationAssistanceProgram

ResettlementServices

Job Readinessand Placement

Services

Provide K-12Education

EnglishLanguageTraning

Ranking of responses indicating “very important” when asked: How would you rate the following steps to deal

with the Syrian refugees once they arrive?

Once refugees are in the United States, which approach do you

think the U.S. should take to integrate them into American

society?

41%

56%

Rapid integration

Slow integration

Once refugees are in the United States, which approach do you think the U.S.

should take to integrate them into American society?

38%

61%

44%

52%

41%

56%

Rapidintegration

Slowintegration

Once refugees are in the United States, which approach do you think the U.S. should take to

integrate them into American society?

18-34 35-54 55+

43%

55%

40%

58%

41%

53%

Rapidintegration

Slowintegration

Once refugees are in the United States, which approach do you think the U.S. should

take to integrate them into American society?


On a scale of 0-10, where 0 is “not being open” and 10 is

“being very open,” rate your degree of openness for refugees

from the following region (South America, Central

America, Africa, The Middle East, East Asia):

4.83

5.68 5.71 5.84 5.96

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

The MiddleEast

East Asia Africa CentralAmerica

SouthAmerica

On a scale of 0-10, where 0 is “not being open” and 10 is “being very open,” rate your degree of openness for refugees from the following

region (mean):

5

6 6 6 6

4.4

4.6

4.8

5

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.8

6

6.2

The MiddleEast

East Asia Africa CentralAmerica

SouthAmerica

On a scale of 0-10, where 0 is “not being open” and 10 is “being very open,” rate your degree of

openness for refugees from the following region (median):

Documents

American attitudes on refugees from the Middle East