Globally, support for refugees is higher than support for migrants, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center last week. The study, which analyzed public opinion data from 18 countries, found that a median of 71 percent supported people “fleeing violence and war” moving to their country, while a median of 50 percent wanted “more” or “about the same” number of migrants. This difference highlights the importance perception plays in people’s attitudes about migrants or refugees.

According to a 2018 article in the journal Social Media and Society, the sentiments associated with the word “refugee” can steer public opinion by eliciting sympathy, while those associated with “migrant” can produce dissatisfaction and create a feelings of tension or “us versus them.”

Overall, peoples’ views of migrants and refugees are divided, but growing acceptance to refugees bucks a rising trend witnessed in many countries of rhetoric directed against migrants and refugees. The Pew study found that acceptance toward newcomers was related to attitudes about diversity: in countries where diversity is viewed as beneficial, respondents tended to welcome both refugees and migrants. Of course, opinions on diversity varied widely across countries. For example, a separate study from the Migration Data Portal found that people in Europe tended to have a more negative view of diversity and the benefits of immigration, while people in the United States held more positive views. Opinions on diversity also appear to be connected to age and educational attainment, as research from Gallup shows.

However, the Pew study notes that even in countries where diversity is less favored and support for migrants is limited, publics still support taking in refugees—in both Germany and Spain, for example, 69 percent of diversity opponents said they would welcome refugees.

In the United States, an August poll from Gallup showed that 57 percent of Americans would support taking in “Central American refugees” arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, up from 51 percent in December, and higher than opinion polling on admittance of past refugee populations. Interestingly, the Gallup poll named those fleeing Central America “refugees,” yet few are defined and protected as such, and one could speculate that these polling numbers would be somewhat lower if Central Americans were referred to as “migrants.” Again, it appears that perception of who is a refugee or migrant matters a great deal in whether they will find support or be welcomed in their new country of residence.

Best regards,

Alexandra Vranas-Carita

Editor, Migration Information Source