“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be talking about illegal immigration” (On the Issues). Does Donald Trump have an effect on the ways in which people think about immigration? Has he not only brought attention to it, but changed people’s minds about it? My intent is to assess polls over the course of the debate season to see if there is a possibility that Donald Trump has made an impact on public opinion with all of his strong opinions about immigration. The first poll I am going to examine is one from Quinnipiac University, released in July 2015, accessed on pollingreport.com. My second poll is one conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, published by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, accessed on
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citizens are being socialized. Perhaps peer socialization and school socialization are having an effect. Although there is little research on peer socialization (Erikson and Tedin, 130), there is evidence that could suggest a change in attitudes towards immigrants in general. As Hispanics and Latinos are one of the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population (Brown), there is just more exposure to them as a whole. Children are having friend groups that are diverse, they are encountering a wider variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. Simple exposure to something previously unfamiliar is one of the best ways to become more comfortable and more understanding of situations we are not familiar with and have never experienced. Part of this exposure includes schools (Erikson and Tedin, 130). One specific example I have seen in my life was at the school where my mom is a teacher. Her school has had an influx of Hispanic students over the last few years, and I even had some classes with them although I went to a different school. I can see how being in classes where there is diversity and even becoming friends with people of a different ethnicity (peer socialization) could affect opinions on illegal immigration. If I knew that my friend had come to America to have a better life, and that that was the reasoning by a lot of people coming to America, I would be much more likely to support those who are already in the …show more content…
We see it affecting many political attitudes, and it is no different for immigration. There are 54 million Latin Americans living in the United States as of 2013 (Brown), and they are the segment of the population most supportive of increasing immigration, and also are in support of allowing illegal immigrants to stay and earn a path to citizenship (Jones). 77% of the Hispanic population is in support of allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and earn a path to citizenship. Clearly, there are factors other than what the political elites say that affect how a person forms public
citizens are being socialized. Perhaps peer socialization and school socialization are having an effect. Although there is little research on peer socialization (Erikson and Tedin, 130), there is evidence that could suggest a change in attitudes towards immigrants in general. As Hispanics and Latinos are one of the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population (Brown), there is just more exposure to them as a whole. Children are having friend groups that are diverse, they are encountering a wider variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. Simple exposure to something previously unfamiliar is one of the best ways to become more comfortable and more understanding of situations we are not familiar with and have never experienced. Part of this exposure includes schools (Erikson and Tedin, 130). One specific example I have seen in my life was at the school where my mom is a teacher. Her school has had an influx of Hispanic students over the last few years, and I even had some classes with them although I went to a different school. I can see how being in classes where there is diversity and even becoming friends with people of a different ethnicity (peer socialization) could affect opinions on illegal immigration. If I knew that my friend had come to America to have a better life, and that that was the reasoning by a lot of people coming to America, I would be much more likely to support those who are already in the …show more content…
We see it affecting many political attitudes, and it is no different for immigration. There are 54 million Latin Americans living in the United States as of 2013 (Brown), and they are the segment of the population most supportive of increasing immigration, and also are in support of allowing illegal immigrants to stay and earn a path to citizenship (Jones). 77% of the Hispanic population is in support of allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. and earn a path to citizenship. Clearly, there are factors other than what the political elites say that affect how a person forms public