Opinion Science #114: Making Immigration Popular with Alex Kustov
Mar 2, 2026
Alex Kustov, associate professor of global affairs at Notre Dame and author of In Our Interest, studies public opinion and immigration policy. He discusses why immigration attitudes are surprisingly stable and how partisanship shaped the debate. He introduces the "altruist's dilemma" and explores which policies make benefits obvious, from skilled immigration to family reunification and private sponsorship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Immigration Attitudes Are Stable Yet Responsive
- U.S. public opinion on immigration is stable but oscillates with events and government action.
- Gallup shows long-term warming yet recent back-and-forth; only ~10% are categorical opponents while most are persuadable.
Public Holds Nuanced Positions Across Immigration Issues
- People hold nuanced, internally consistent positions across immigration subissues rather than simple pro/anti labels.
- Example: voters can favor abolishing ICE while still supporting strong border security and lawful enforcement.
Core Immigration Stances Persist Over Years
- Longitudinal evidence shows most individuals' core immigration stance is stable over years.
- Panels (e.g., Switzerland) find 70–90% keep the same pro/anti position after a decade, rivaling partisan stability.
