The 2024 Election and the Immigrant Narrative: Misinformation, Perceptions, and Realities
The 2024 presidential election cycle has once again brought the issue of immigration to the forefront of political discourse. A new KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll reveals a concerning landscape of pervasive misinformation surrounding immigrants, fueled by campaign rhetoric and impacting public perceptions. While candidates debate immigration policies, the poll highlights a crucial gap in the narrative: the voices and experiences of immigrants themselves. This report seeks to bridge that gap, offering insights from a survey of immigrants alongside the views of the general public, shedding light on the realities of how this election is shaping their lives.
The poll, conducted prior to the September 10th presidential debate, uncovered a widespread exposure to misinformation. An overwhelming majority of adults reported hearing false claims from candidates and elected officials, such as immigrants causing a surge in violent crime (80%) or stealing jobs and driving up unemployment (74%). While a majority also heard the true claim that immigrants fill critical labor shortages (69%), significantly fewer (31%) encountered the factual statement about undocumented immigrants contributing billions in taxes annually. This disparity underscores the challenge of combating misinformation, as false narratives often gain more traction than factual information.
Disturbingly, the poll revealed a "muddled middle" where a significant portion of the public expressed uncertainty about the veracity of these claims. For instance, over half (56%) considered the false link between immigrants and violent crime as either "probably true" or "probably false." This ambiguity highlights the effectiveness of misinformation campaigns in sowing doubt and confusion, even in the face of contrary evidence. While the true claim about immigrants filling labor shortages was more readily accepted, the pervasive uncertainty underscores the need for clear and accessible information to counter the spread of false narratives.
Partisan divides further complicate the picture. Republicans were significantly more likely to believe the false claims about immigrants and crime or unemployment. Conversely, Democrats were more inclined to accept the true statements about immigrants’ contributions to the economy and the tax system. This polarization highlights the challenge of fostering a fact-based discussion on immigration, as individuals often interpret information through a partisan lens. Bridging this divide requires a concerted effort to promote media literacy and critical thinking, encouraging individuals to evaluate information objectively regardless of political affiliation.
Beyond the general public’s perceptions, the poll delved into the experiences of immigrants themselves, revealing the profound impact of the campaign rhetoric on their lives. A substantial portion (36%) of immigrant adults reported negative impacts due to former President Trump’s campaign rhetoric, rising to 45% among Asian immigrants. These negative impacts include experiences of increased suspicion, discrimination, and even verbal abuse. This underscores the real-world consequences of inflammatory political discourse, transforming words into tangible harm for individuals and communities. Conversely, a notable portion of Asian immigrants perceived a positive impact from Vice President Harris’s campaign, potentially reflecting a resonance with her own immigrant heritage.
The poll also explored immigrants’ knowledge and perceptions regarding federal benefit programs. A significant proportion of both the general public and immigrants themselves held misconceptions about eligibility criteria for programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Many incorrectly believed that undocumented immigrants qualified for these programs or expressed uncertainty. This confusion reflects the effectiveness of misinformation campaigns that portray immigrants as a drain on public resources, despite evidence to the contrary. Addressing this requires clear and accurate communication about eligibility requirements, as well as highlighting the economic contributions of immigrants through taxes and labor.
Looking ahead to the election, immigrant voters, similar to the broader electorate, prioritized the economy, inflation, and threats to democracy as their top concerns. While immigration and border security ranked lower on their list of priorities, the poll’s findings underscore the need for candidates to engage in a fact-based discussion about immigration, acknowledging both the challenges and contributions of immigrants to American society. The experiences and perspectives of immigrants themselves must be central to this conversation, moving beyond rhetoric and focusing on policies that reflect the complexities of this critical issue.