Immigrants Have it Easier in America that U.S.-Born People, Half of Trump Voters Say in Poll

Half of the people who voted for President Donald Trump said immigrants have it easier in America than folks who were born here, according to a new poll released by The Economist/YouGov.

The poll asked: "All things considered, who do you think has it easier in our country these days?"

Respondents could choose from native-born Americans, immigrants or no difference. Among Trump voters, 50 percent expressed that immigrants have it easier in the United States, according to The Economist/YouGov. Thirty-two percent of Trump voters chose no difference, while just 18 percent said native-born Americans.

There was, perhaps predictably, a divide along party lines when it came to who they thought had it easier in the U.S. A majority of folks who voted for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton—64 percent—said people who were born in the U.S. had it easier than immigrants. Twenty-seven percent of Clinton voters said no difference while just 9 percent said immigrants had it easier, according to the survey from The Economist/YouGov.

Overall, a plurality—40 percent—of Americans thought people born in the country had it easier than immigrants. Thirty-five percent said no difference while 25 percent said immigrants had it easier.

The poll from The Economist/YouGov survey 1,500 U.S. adults from October 7 through October 9. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

Trump ran on hard-line immigration stances and his policies and actions in office on immigration have often proven controversial. When his administration began enforcing a policy of separating families at the border, for instance, it sparked nationwide protests and anger from liberals, of course, but some conservatives as well.

The Trump administration also announced last month it planned to crack down on the number of immigrants who receive green cards by looking over their use of government benefits.

"Under long-standing federal law, those seeking to immigrate to the United States must show they can support themselves financially," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said at the time, via USA Today. "This proposed rule will implement a law passed by Congress intended to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers."