Surprisingly...

Americans Agree on
How to Fix Immigration

Updated hourly: Based on 1,016 member responses as of August 17, 2026 at 3:53 am ET.

Menu

OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

Americans Want Both Parties' Best Solutions

Democrats Support MANDATORY e-verify

A Republican priority for 30 years

Support
Do you support or oppose mandatory E-verify?51%
republicans support STATUS FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS

A Democratic priority for 30 years

Support
Do you support or oppose allowing those who arrived here as children to earn legal status under the DREAM Act's provisions?74%

30

of 34

Proposals Earn a Cross-Partisan Supermajority

Here's what Americans agree we should adopt — or reject

PILOT INTEGRATED VISA PORTAL Adopt 93%
LEGAL STATUS FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS Adopt 90%
DEPORT ALL CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS Reject 88%
PERMIT STAGGERED AGRICULTURAL WORKER ENTRY (H-2A) Adopt 86%
THREE-PILLAR PACKAGE (BORDER, LEGAL, STATUS) Adopt 82%
FENCES & GATES PACKAGE Adopt 81%
3-YEAR H-2A & H-2B CERTIFICATIONS Adopt 81%
TIGHTEN EXEMPTIONS FOR H-1B-DEPENDENT EMPLOYERS Adopt 81%
STATE OPT-IN SYSTEM FOR TEMP WORK VISAS Adopt 81%
CONGRESSIONAL IMMIGRATION-DATA OFFICE Adopt 81%
VISA FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL, NON-SEASONAL/NON-DEGREE JOBS (H-2B) Adopt 79%
LEGAL STATUS FOR ADULTS Adopt 79%
YEAR-ROUND AGRICULTURAL WORK VISA (H-2A) Adopt 77%
WAIVE IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS FOR RETURNING WORKERS Adopt 76%
CAP EXEMPTIONS FOR RETURNING NON-AGRICULTURAL WORKERS (H-2B) Adopt 76%
ESTABLISH TRUSTED EMPLOYER PROGRAM Adopt 76%
AGRICULTURAL WORKER PORTABILITY WITHIN A STATE (H-2A) Adopt 76%
DEPORT ALL WHO ARRIVED AS ADULTS Reject 76%
RAISE ASYLUM SCREENING TO "REASONABLE FEAR" Adopt 73%
JUDICIARY HEARING ON DATA-OFFICE REPORTS Adopt 72%
BIOMETRIC EXIT TRACKING FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS Adopt 68%
MANDATORY E-VERIFY Adopt 67%
ELIMINATE EXEMPTIONS FOR H-1B-DEPENDENT EMPLOYERS Adopt 61%
PILOT ROTATIONAL LABOR Adopt 56%

Cross-Partisan Supermajority: at least 55% consensus overall, and above 50% consensus among each of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

Fences and Gates Package

ROBUST SUPPORT FOR PACKAGE THAT SECURES BORDER AND REFORMS LEGAL IMMIGRATION

Republicans 86%Democrats 76%Independents 81%
Support
All (Weighted)81%

n = 1,016 responses

CommonSense Americans overwhelmingly endorse a bipartisan fences and gates immigration package. The support is similarly high among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, although members of each party don’t recognize how much the other party agrees with them. They strongly agree that this bipartisan compromise should not be rejected in hopes of winning a better deal for one side later — whether that’s more lasting increases in border security or legal immigration reform.

What share of Democrats support the bipartisan fences & gates package?

+31
Republican guess45%
actually76%
0%25%50%75%100%

Republicans guess 45%; actually 76% of Democrats support it.

What share of Republicans support the bipartisan fences & gates package?

+40
Democrat guess46%
actually86%
0%25%50%75%100%

Democrats guess 46%; actually 86% of Republicans support it.

The package members evaluated:

1. Lasting increases in border security

Make OBBBA’s border detection technology permanent — Pass legislation requiring future administrations to continue and maintain OBBBA’s free-standing border technology aspects.

Reform the asylum system — Raise the initial screening standard for assessing fear of persecution from “credible fear” to “reasonable fear.”

2. Legal immigration reform

Modernize — Update technology, processes, and data analysis.

Pilot — Test whether the more ambitious temporary work visa proposals can be implemented in a way that protects US and foreign workers.

Implement — Enact commonsense temporary work visa reforms.

How could a fences & gates package gain even more support?

By doing more to reform legal immigration and less for border security.

We asked our members which arguments against the package they found most compelling:

%
DOES TOO MUCH FOR BORDER SECURITY & TOO LITTLE FOR LEGAL PATHWAYS62%
DOES TOO MUCH FOR LEGAL PATHWAYS & TOO LITTLE FOR BORDER SECURITY26%
BORDER SECURITY SPENDING IS WASTEFUL & THE WORK VISAS ARE UNFAIR TO FOREIGN WORKERS13%

All (Weighted) · n = 1,016 responses

Open-Ended Responses

Support for fences and gates package

Chris A.

Democrat from Texas

Immigration is integral for the future of the U.S. The United States has always been a country of immigrants and welcomed immigrants from around the world. We have to figure out how to do this right and allow in productive people while maintaining a vetting process that allows us to reject people who would not participate in the American project.

Mark C.

Independent from California

Arguments against many of these proposals frequently take the form of “it isn’t perfect, so I reject it.” Waiting for perfect solutions is one of the reasons we have neglected this important reform for so long. All things being equal, we should lean toward making efforts at reform. We should not let perfection be the enemy of the good. In a related point, we should not reject good proposals based on the risk that they may not be implemented well or a future administration may do something contrary. Those risks come with any legislation.

Justin R.

Leaning Republican from Tennessee

Our country was built by immigrants. It is still strengthened by immigrants. To restrict immigration too severely is to restrict the growth of the American economy, its people, and its communities. And yet, unchecked immigration will strain the very people and communities we desire to help.

Bennett G.

Democrat from New Jersey

The best way to limit illegal immigration is to make legal immigration easier, especially for the job sectors that currently rely on illegal immigrants. I strongly support expanding the number of visas available in these job sectors, along with speeding up and modernizing the approval processes for these visas. If foreigners who desperately want to come to the U.S. think it’s feasible to come in legally, they won’t risk taking the illegal route.

Thomas H.

Independent from Utah

With rare exceptions, people come to this country for same reasons that we love it: a promise of a better life, greater liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We should be seeking ways to extend these privileges, not to limit them. Had I been born in Mexico, with my children surrounded by drugs, violence and no hope of meaningful employment or education, I suspect I would look for ways to get into the United States because being a good parent means giving your children opportunities to grow and thrive. Being told that I had to come up with incomprehensible sums of money and wait for years to even be considered for admission would encourage me to attempt other means of entry. We have “illegal” immigration because we have made immigration illegal. I would like to believe that members of our Congress can understand and empathize with those who come into this country with or without documentation because they understand what drives someone to come here. We are all children of immigrants; this nation has been built on the backs of immigrants; this nation needs immigrants; this nation is great because of the contributions of immigrants. This nation must been good enough and wise enough to embrace immigrants.

Alan S.

Republican from Utah

Failing to act is an abdication of the job you were hired to do. Even an imperfect plan is better than the system that is currently not working. Compromise is critical to a functioning government. Presidents enforce, not decree what the law should be.

Three-Pillar Package

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR PACKAGE THAT (1) SECURES THE BORDER, (2) REFORMS LEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND (3) OFFERS A PATH TO STATUS

There is widespread agreement among everyday Americans that a bipartisan three-pillar package is a way to finally update an immigration system Congress has been unable to meaningfully reform in 30 years. The package would combine lasting border security and enforcement with a modernized legal immigration system and a path for the most deserving undocumented immigrants to earn legal status. Again, Americans don’t realize how much they agree across party lines that addressing all three categories together — rather than holding out for more from any one side — is what it will take to get reform done.

What share of Democrats support this policy?

+35
Republican guess51%
actually86%
0%25%50%75%100%

Republicans guess 51%; actually 86% of Democrats support it.

What share of Republicans support this policy?

+30
Democrat guess44%
actually74%
0%25%50%75%100%

Democrats guess 44%; actually 74% of Republicans support it.
Republicans 74%Democrats 86%Independents 84%
Support
All (Weighted)82%

n = 1,016 responses

The package members evaluated:

1. Lasting increases in border security
  • Make OBBBA’s border detection technology permanent — Pass legislation requiring future administrations to continue and maintain OBBBA’s free-standing border technology aspects.
  • Reform the asylum system — Raise the initial screening standard for assessing fear of persecution from “credible fear” to “reasonable fear.”
  • Make E-Verify mandatory
2. Legal immigration reform
  • Modernize — Update technology, processes, and data analysis.
  • Pilot — Test whether the more ambitious temporary work visa proposals can be implemented in a way that protects US and foreign workers.
  • Implement — Enact commonsense temporary work visa reforms.
3. Route for undocumented immigrants to earn legal status
  • DREAM Act provisions for childhood arrivals
  • Dignity Act provisions for adults arrivals

Republicans and Democrats both oppose rejecting this three-pillar bipartisan package for partisan gain:

62

%

of Democrats Say Take the Deal

rather than hold out for status for more undocumented immigrants on more generous terms

67

%

of Republicans Say Take the Deal

rather than hold out for more lasting border security and immigration enforcement

Open-Ended Responses

Support for Three-Pillar Package

Walter E.

Democrat in the US

We desperately Immigration Reform and it is good to see this bipartisan proposal. No one gets everything they want but compromise leads to more common good.

Laura D.

Independent from Virginia

This issue has been avoided for too long, and the GIFT that CommonSense American offers in the form of this informative, bipartisan brief must be taken up as a foundation for US immigration reform. For over 250 years, people have wanted to be Here, in the New World – and especially in the United States. It is irresponsible to put off the task of legislating comprehensive reform any longer. Allowing millions of undocumented immigrants to remain here without status perpetuates a sub-class that remains in the shadows of our society when we must promote the freedom and security that legal status provides.

David G.

Republican from Texas

It is better to do something than nothing. Great strides have been in making the border more secure. We now need to make the process for legal immigration sustainable, fair, effective.

Once immigrants know the rules of the game, all aspects of the 3 legged stool will be easier to implement, enforce, and sustain.

Eileen J.

Democrat in Minnesota

I would like members of congress to reach across the aisle and work together in a bipartisan way to get immigration reform done. Making progress on the issue is critical for the nation. It’s more important to take concrete steps than to hold out for winning more of what you want – that just leads to inaction and stagnation. Congress needs to act in a fair and balanced manner and listen to all sides. There are very helpful proposals for all sides of of this problem. Congress needs to stop playing politics and get work done for the American people.

Kari C.

Independent from Arizona

I would like members of Congress to know that I believe immigration reform is long overdue, and that meaningful reform will require compromise from people across the political spectrum. I generally support efforts to create a system that is more orderly, fair, and responsive to the needs of our country, including protections for U.S. employers and workers.

At the same time, I believe it is important to keep the humanity of immigrants at the center of this discussion. The vast majority of people who come to the United States, whether legally, undocumented, or seeking future entry, are human beings trying to improve their lives, support their families, work hard, and contribute to their communities. Our laws should be practical and enforceable, but they should also reflect our nation’s best values.

I hope Congress will pursue reform that strengthens the economy, protects workers, provides clear and realistic legal pathways, improves border and visa systems, and treats people with dignity. Immigration policy will always involve difficult choices, but those choices should not lose sight of the broader goals: welcoming the stranger, supporting economic opportunity, and building a system that works better for everyone.

Kim B.

Republican from South Carolina

I keep coming back to the central idea that no one should be here without a legal status, be it permanently temporary, or temporarily permanent. My general view is that, if ‘re they’re working/ passing classes in school, paying taxes, and contributing in a beneficial way to the community where they live – Welcome! For me, the best case scenario would be that those who adapt well to our society can earn full citizenship after several years – with all the rights that entails. They have done the work and paid the dues. In my mind, they also deserve the benefits, such as voting, social security and medical care. While they don’t reach that status, the solutions offered here are a good first step. Our new streamlined data communication system can help document their acclimation into their communities.

My last thought is regarding the wall. We need to honor our treaties with the Indigenous populations. The tribal governments know their people, and (in my experience) are very insular as to who is allowed where on the Reservation. I think we can trust them to police the borders that pertain to their lands. Those decisions, though, need to be made in conversation with the Elders of the affected tribes.

Pillar One

Border Security

Support is strong for locking in border technology, raising the asylum-screening standard, and mandatory E-Verify.

BORDER SECURITY

Members broadly support maintaining OBBBA’s free-standing border technology, but divide almost evenly over whether to require future administrations to complete and maintain OBBBA’s border wall system.

A NATION DIVIDED ON THE WALL

Obligate future administrations to complete and maintain a OBBBA’s border wall system along all but 500 miles of the border?

Republicans 81%/19%Democrats 19%/81%Independents 50%/50%
SupportOppose
All (Weighted)50%50%

n = 1,016 responses

What do Americans see as the most compelling arguments for making the border wall system permanent?

They answered: It would help channel immigration through safer and more orderly legal pathways.

%
PRO-IMMIGRATION WALL SUPPORTERS76%
RESTRICTIONISTS24%

All (Weighted) · n = 1,016 responses

STRONG MAJORITY SUPPORTS BORDER TECHNOLOGY

Obligate future administrations to continue and maintain OBBBA’s free-standing border technology?

Republicans 80%/20%Democrats 44%/56%Independents 67%/34%
SupportOppose
All (Weighted)64%36%

n = 1,016 responses

Can you do more border security than this proposal without losing support?

Most answered:  The free-standing technology proposal already does too much on border security.

%
DOES TOO MUCH57%
DOES TOO LITTLE43%

All (Weighted) · n = 1,016 responses

ASYLUM REFORM

Members broadly support raising the screening standard from “credible fear” to “reasonable fear,” but they split down the middle on giving asylum officers the final say.

STRONG SUPPORT FOR A HIGHER SCREENING STANDARD

Raise the initial screening standard for assessing fear of persecution from “credible fear” to “reasonable fear”?

Republicans 88%/12%Democrats 54%/46%Independents 73%/27%
SupportOppose
All (Weighted)73%27%

n = 1,013 responses

SPLIT ON OFFICERS HAVING FINAL SAY

Allow asylum officers to make a final decision on asylum claims?

Republicans 55%/45%Democrats 44%/56%Independents 51%/49%
SupportOppose
All (Weighted)50%50%

n = 627 responses

E-VERIFY

Americans strongly support making E-Verify mandatory.

CLEAR SUPPORT FOR MANDATORY E-VERIFY

Support or oppose mandatory E-Verify?

Republicans 82%/18%Democrats 51%/49%Independents 68%/32%
SupportOppose
All (Weighted)67%33%

n = 1,016 responses

PILLAR TWO

Legal Immigration

Modernizing the System

INTEGRATED VISA PORTAL

Republicans 90%Democrats 96%Independents 95%
Support
All (Weighted)93%

All (Weighted) · n = 1,016 responses

Piloting a single digital portal integrated across agencies to process visa applications attracts near-universal support

There is broad agreement among everyday Americans that the way we process visas is overdue for an upgrade. Today an applicant’s information is scattered across multiple agencies that don’t talk to each other, creating delays, duplication, and backlogs that frustrate workers and employers alike. A single digital portal — piloted first with one type of temporary work visa — would let agencies share what they already collect, speed up decisions, and cut down on errors. Americans across party lines see this for what it is: a common-sense fix that makes government work better without changing who gets in.

SUPPORT FOR EVERY OTHER MODERNIZATION PROPOSAL:

Americans overwhelmingly supported every other modernization proposal

RepublicansDemocratsIndependents
SupportOppose
STATE OPT-IN SYSTEM FOR TEMP WORK VISAS81%19%
3-YEAR H-2A & H-2B CERTIFICATIONS81%19%
CONGRESSIONAL IMMIGRATION-DATA OFFICE81%20%
WAIVE IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS FOR RETURNING WORKERS76%24%
ESTABLISH TRUSTED EMPLOYER PROGRAM76%24%
JUDICIARY HEARING ON DATA-OFFICE REPORTS72%28%
BIOMETRIC EXIT TRACKING FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS68%33%

n = 440–542 responses per question

Temporary Work Visas

H-1B, H-2B, H-2A

Members strongly support proposals to update the antiquated temporary work visa system so that we have sensible gates to go with the border fence:

RepublicansDemocratsIndependents
SupportOppose
PERMIT STAGGERED AGRICULTURAL WORKER ENTRY (H-2A)86%14%
TIGHTEN EXEMPTIONS FOR H-1B-DEPENDENT EMPLOYERS81%19%
VISA FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL, NON-SEASONAL/NON-DEGREE JOBS (H-2B)79%21%
AGRICULTURAL WORKER PORTABILITY WITHIN A STATE (H-2A)76%24%
CAP EXEMPTIONS FOR RETURNING NON-AGRICULTURAL WORKERS (H-2B)76%24%
YEAR-ROUND AGRICULTURAL WORK VISA (H-2A)77%23%
ELIMINATE EXEMPTIONS FOR H-1B-DEPENDENT EMPLOYERS61%39%
PILOT ROTATIONAL LABOR56%44%
CAP EXEMPTION FOR PROFESSIONAL STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOBS (H-1B)55%45%

n = 399–1,016 responses per question

Pillar Three

Legal Status

Across parties, Americans overwhelmingly support letting people earn legal status. Just as strongly, they oppose mass deportation or leaving them in permanent limbo.

A PATH TO LEGAL STATUS FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS & ADULT ARRIVALS

Robust support — and every party agrees 

From Democrats to Republicans, majorities back earning legal status. No group dips below 75%.

CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS

Earn legal status under DREAM Act?

Republicans 74%Democrats 100%Independents 92%
Support
All (Weighted)90%

n = 1,016 responses

ADULT ARRIVALS

Earn legal status under Dignity Act?

Republicans 63%Democrats 91%Independents 81%
Support
All (Weighted)79%

n = 1,016 responses

UNDOCUMENTED CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS

◀ Oppose Support ▶
Earn Legal Status Under the DREAM Act 90% support
11% oppose 90% support
Deport All Undocumented Childhood Arrivals 88% oppose
88% oppose 12% support
Leave Childhood Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 77% oppose
77% oppose 23% support
Earn Legal Status Under the DREAM Act 74% support
26% oppose 74% support
Deport All Undocumented Childhood Arrivals 73% oppose
73% oppose 27% support
Leave Childhood Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 81% oppose
81% oppose 19% support
Earn Legal Status Under the DREAM Act 100% support
0% oppose 100% support
Deport All Undocumented Childhood Arrivals 99% oppose
99% oppose 1% support
Leave Childhood Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 71% oppose
71% oppose 29% support
Earn Legal Status Under the DREAM Act 92% support
9% oppose 92% support
Deport All Undocumented Childhood Arrivals 90% oppose
90% oppose 10% support
Leave Childhood Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 78% oppose
78% oppose 22% support
Oppose Support
RepublicansDemocratsIndependents

UNDOCUMENTED ADULT ARRIVALS

◀ Oppose Support ▶
Earn Legal Status Under the Dignity Act 79% support
22% oppose 79% support
Deport All Undocumented Adult Arrivals 76% oppose
76% oppose 24% support
Leave Adult Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 79% oppose
79% oppose 22% support
Earn Legal Status Under the Dignity Act 63% support
37% oppose 63% support
Deport All Undocumented Adult Arrivals 51% oppose
51% oppose 49% support
Leave Adult Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 86% oppose
86% oppose 14% support
Earn Legal Status Under the Dignity Act 91% support
9% oppose 91% support
Deport All Undocumented Adult Arrivals 98% oppose
98% oppose 2% support
Leave Adult Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 68% oppose
68% oppose 32% support
Earn Legal Status Under the Dignity Act 81% support
19% oppose 81% support
Deport All Undocumented Adult Arrivals 79% oppose
79% oppose 21% support
Leave Adult Arrivals Without Status (except dangerous) 80% oppose
80% oppose 20% support
Oppose Support
RepublicansDemocratsIndependents

All Messages to Congress