Our May survey found that 75% believe immigration policy needs at least major changes, with 35% saying it needs to be “completely rebuilt.” Yet the broad public agreement that immigration policy should be revamped is not matched by consensus on how to deal with illegal and legal immigration.

While a solid majority of Americans say there should be a way for people in the U.S. illegally to remain, the public is more divided on the issue of citizenship.

Our May survey finds that 73% of Americans say there should be a way for people in the United States illegally to remain in this country if they meet certain requirements. Among those holding this view, 44% say illegal immigrants should be allowed to apply for citizenship, but 25% of the public says they should only be allowed to apply for legal residency. A quarter say they should not be allowed to stay legally.

Although many Americans believe the immigration systems needs at least major changes, surveys earlier this year suggested the public was not putting a priority for quick action.

The Democratic Party and many constituent groups have long pushed for changes and voiced unhappiness with President Obama’s lack of action on the issue during his first term.  But our February survey showed only a bare majority (51%) of the public believes it is essential to enact major immigration legislation this year.

In our annual policy priorities survey, released Jan. 24, 39% said that dealing with the issue of illegal immigration should be a top priority for the president and Congress. That placed it 17th on a list of policy priorities for the coming year.

There was a modest rise in the percentage of Americans who say equal priority should be given to both enhancing border security and a path to citizenship, according to our February survey.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that better border security and stronger enforcement of immigration laws should be the bigger priority, while Democrats are more likely to want the focus to be on creating a way for illegal immigrants already here to become citizens if they meet certain requirements.

Overall attitudes about immigrants in the U.S. have become more positive than negative, despite the nation’s struggling economy.

Currently, 49% agree with the statement “immigrants today strengthen the country because of their hard work and talents,” according to our March survey. Somewhat fewer (41%) agree with an opposing statement: “immigrants today are a burden on our country because they take our jobs, housing and health care.” Our survey in May found no consensus on whether the level of legal immigration should be increased or decreased – 36% said they should be decreased, 25% favored increasing them and 31% wanted to keep immigration at present levels.

The total immigrant population has continued to grow, while unauthorized immigration has declined slightly from its 2007 peak.

Our January report found the total U.S. immigrant population grew to a record 40.4 million in 2011, but unauthorized immigration actually fell slightly to 11.1 million in 2011, from a peak of 12 million in 2007.

The 11.1 million estimate for the number of unauthorized immigrants was developed by Pew Research Center senior demographer Jeffrey Passell. He describes the methodology behind the estimates in this interview.

A majority of Mexican immigrants who are in the U.S. legally and are eligible to become citizens have not taken that path for a variety of reasons.

We have also examined the issue of naturalization. Nearly two-thirds of the 5.4 million legal immigrants from Mexico who are eligible to become citizens of the United States have not yet taken that step. Their rate of naturalization—36%—is only half that of legal immigrants from all other countries combined, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data.

Net migration to the United States from Mexico has fallen to zero, and may have reversed.

Our spring 2012 report found that the largest wave of immigration in history from a single country to the United States has come to a standstill. After four decades that brought 12 million immigrants from Mexico, most of whom arrived illegally, the net migration flow has stopped and may have even reversed.

A majority of Mexicans say they would not move to the U.S. even if they had the means and opportunity to do so.

While a survey conducted in March found that 61% of Mexicans would not move to the U.S. even if they could do so, a sizable minority (35%) said they would move to the U.S. if they could, including 20% who say they would emigrate without authorization. The survey also found that Mexicans are less likely than they were a year ago to say that people from their country who move to the U.S. have a better life there.

See more of Pew Research Hispanic Center’s reports in our link bundle.

Read more Pew Research reports on Immigration.

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