Monday, July 16, 2018

Fox Viewers More Likely To Think Immigrants "Cheating Their Way In'


When it comes to immigration policy, American opinions often break down along party lines, with most Republicans supporting President Trump, and Democrats vigorously opposed.

But according to a new NPR-Ipsos poll, there's an even better predictor of how you feel about immigration: where you get your TV news.

The poll of more than 1,000 people asked about Trump's immigration policies and proposals and about which immigrants should get priority in the U.S. system. The poll was conducted in English and Spanish from June 19-20. Most respondents said they got their news mainly from TV.

On some questions, people who get their TV news primarily from Fox News or CNN are even further apart than Republicans and Democrats, with viewers of the other big TV networks somewhere in between.



Ipsos pollster Chris Jackson says he's surprised to find a connection in the data that's even stronger than partisanship.

"People who get their news from Fox News actually take the strongest anti-immigrant position of any group we looked at in this survey," Jackson said.

"I can't really say if those views are coming because of Fox. Or if they're watching Fox because they hold those views. But it's a really strong connection. I think it was very surprising," he said.

Jackson says some of the biggest disagreements are over what's really motivating asylum-seekers to come here.

"CNN viewers, 68 percent of them think these people are fleeing real danger, real persecution. Whereas only 20 percent of Fox News viewers believe that," said Jackson.

"On the other hand, 72 percent — so almost three quarters of Fox News viewers — think that refugee and asylum seekers are just taking advantage of the system," Jackson said. "They're trying to cheat their way in."

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