October 19, 2023
Only 16% of adults view Mexico as a close ally, but majorities believe the U.S and Mexican governments share a responsibility to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking, according to a new Pearson Institute/AP-NORC Center Poll.
When it comes to foreign policy with Mexico, immigration is a top priority. However, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say creating opportunities for legal immigration is important (57% vs. 25%), while Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say preventing illegal immigration is important (80% vs. 35%).
Only 20% of adults have a favorable view of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, while 69% hold favorable views of Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. legally.
Sixty-five percent of adults have a favorable view of Mexican culture, and majorities of the public report engaging with Mexican culture within the U.S. and interacting with people of Mexican heritage. Adults who interact with Mexican culture tend to have more positive views about Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. both legally and illegally, and Mexican culture.
The nationwide poll was conducted by the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from September 21 to 25, 2023, using AmeriSpeak®, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones were conducted with 1,191 adults. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.8 percentage points.
Suggested Citation: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (October, 2023). “Few view Mexico as a close ally, but many believe the U.S. and Mexico share responsibility at the border” https://apnorc.org/projects/few-view-mexico-as-a-close-ally-but-many-believe-the-u-s-and-mexico-share-responsibility-at-the-border/
