Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: Are people against immigration currently?
Executive Summary
Public attitudes toward immigration are mixed and increasingly polarized across countries: Canada shows rising opposition, especially among Conservative voters who say the government admits too many people; the United States has shown a recent decline in expressed opposition and an increase in favorable views; and the United Kingdom remains divided, with immigration a rising top issue for many voters. These snapshots reflect different national debates, partisan coalitions, and survey timings rather than a single global swing against migration [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. Why Canada looks like a growing backlash — Conservatives driving the headline
Recent Canadian polling documents a clear increase in public concern about immigration, with a majority saying Canada accepts too many immigrants and Conservative supporters particularly alarmed. One Environics survey recorded 56% saying Canada takes in too many immigrants and showed that 82% of Conservative voters hold that view, a rise from 41% in 2020; analysts link this to frustration with government management and worries about housing and economic impacts [1] [2] [5]. This pattern indicates opposition concentrated in a specific political constituency rather than an across-the-board societal consensus: the intensity among Conservative voters gives the impression of a nationwide backlash, but the polling points to partisan polarization where concerns are driven by perceptions of government competence and local pressures on services, not solely by abstract antipathy to migration.
2. Why the United States shows declining opposition — context matters
Contrasting with Canada, a Gallup poll of U.S. adults found a sharp drop in the share wanting reduced immigration, falling from 55% in 2024 to 30% in 2025, with 79% saying immigration is a good thing for the country, suggesting a reversal of recent concern [3]. Political developments around border management are a plausible driver: changes in administration policy and enforcement, plus evolving media coverage, appear to have eased public anxiety about a surge at the border, contributing to more positive aggregate sentiment. Other polling analyses of the 2024 election underscore immigration as a prominent electoral issue but show diverse views across racial and ethnic groups, indicating that the U.S. trend toward less opposition is neither uniform nor permanent and is tightly linked to current events and policy signals [6].
3. Britain’s split personality — issue salience rising even as opinions diverge
UK data show a divided public: roughly half of respondents want lower immigration while a sizable minority sees positive impacts from migration, leaving Britain split and highly sensitive to news cycles and political framing [4] [7]. Immigration has climbed in the list of “most important issues,” notably around October 2024, reflecting that salience matters as much as direction. That means even when national majorities are not firmly anti-immigration, a concentrated concern among motivated voters can push immigration to the forefront of politics and influence party strategies. The mix of views—some seeing benefits to the economy and culture while others worry about pressures on services—creates a political environment where governments respond to perceived local strains as well as to national narratives.
4. Electoral politics and the shifting coalitions that shape opinion
Across these jurisdictions, party politics and election cycles structure attitudes: surveys used in election analysis show immigration rising as a campaign issue and align shifts in public opinion with partisan realignments [8] [6]. In Canada the Conservative base’s growing opposition signals a mobilized constituency; in the U.S., the decreased desire for lower immigration coincided with political developments that reassured some voters [2] [3]. Historical results also remind that views fluctuate—older polls show higher preference for reduced immigration at other times—so current levels reflect specific combinations of economic conditions, government messaging, and media emphasis rather than immutable public hostility [9].
5. Caveats, drivers and what the polling mix tells policymakers
Interpreting these findings requires caution: surveys capture attitudes at particular moments influenced by housing markets, labour needs, enforcement news, and partisan messaging, and cross-country comparisons must account for different survey questions and timing [1] [5] [3]. Opposition is often concentrated among specific voter groups rather than universal; policy responses that focus solely on reducing admissions risk overlooking labour shortages or humanitarian commitments. The polling mix suggests that governments can sway public sentiment through policy clarity and management: effective communication and practical measures on integration, housing, and enforcement reduce public anxiety, while perceived mismanagement amplifies opposition among politically engaged groups [1] [2] [4].