Half of Evangelicals See Immigrants as Drain on Resources, New Poll Shows

Half of U.S. evangelicals said recent immigrants are a “drain on economic resources,” while 37% said immigrants are a threat to “law and order” in a new survey.

The results mark increases in negative views about immigration among evangelicals since a 2022 survey in which 33% said immigrants are a drain on resources and 30% said they are a threat to law and order.

The evangelical research group Lifeway Resources conducted the survey for several sponsors, including the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition providing discipleship resources focused on immigration from a biblical and missional perspective, and World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization.

Also in the survey:

• 55% of evangelicals said Christians have a responsibility to care for immigrants, even those here illegally.

• 75% said there should be a path to citizenship for those already here who are interested and meet certain qualifications.

“It’s quite notable that this data includes 72% of White evangelicals, along with 80% of Black evangelicals and 87% of Hispanic evangelicals,” said Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who participated in an online news conference Wednesday.

Evangelicals were divided on immigrants’ value to the nation: 26% said the new arrivals improve America’s cultural diversity, while 28% said they are “a threat to traditional American customs and culture.”

Additionally, 39% of evangelicals said the recent influx is an opportunity to “show love” to immigrants and 40% said it’s a chance to “introduce them to Jesus Christ.” Fourteen percent said immigrants would “boost entrepreneurial activity.”

{snip}