Political Implications of U.S. Public Attitudes Toward Immigration on the Immigration

Policymakers and researchers alike are concerned about the political chal-lenges that liberal states face when attempting to regulate immigration through policy reform amid increased migration and trade (Freeman 1994; Hollifield 1992). At times, U.S. immigration (and immigration policy) cor-responds with the ebb and flow of economic conditions—namely that during times of economic prosperity, policy is more expansive, and during times of economic downturns, it tends to be more restrictive. However, there are times when the U.S. government passes expansive immigration measures in the face of economic downturns. Irrespective of real-world conditions that can be traced to increased globalization and trade and to increased levels of both illegal and legal immigration, governmental drives toward expansive or restrictive immigra-tion policy are mediated by the public’s acceptance of immigration and immi-gration policy. I argue that liberal governments must take the public will into consideration when making policy. When does public opinion matter to the policy process? Anthony Downs (1972) tells us that not every issue that gains public attention gets addressed on the policy agenda. Indeed, the public, when confronted wit