---
title: "Immigration Rises on Washington’s Agenda, Not the Public’s"
description: "The issue of immigration reform is again a hot topic in Washington, with news of a bipartisan Senate compromise proposal to overhaul immigration laws. But immigration is only a middle-tier issue on the public’s agenda, and it has declined in importance since the end of the Bush administration. In the Pew Research Center’s annual policy […]"
date: "2013-01-28"
authors:
  - name: "Sara Kehaulani Goo"
    job_title: "Former Senior Digital Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/sara-kehaulani-goo/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/2013/01/28/immigration-rises-on-washingtons-agenda-not-the-publics/"
categories:
  - "Citizenship"
  - "Immigration & Migration"
  - "Issue Priorities"
---

# Immigration Rises on Washington’s Agenda, Not the Public’s

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/01/PRC_Immigration_Doherty.png)

The issue of immigration reform is again a hot topic in Washington, with news of a bipartisan Senate compromise proposal to overhaul immigration laws. But immigration is only a middle-tier issue on the public’s agenda, and it has declined in importance since the end of the Bush administration.

In the Pew Research Center’s [annual policy priorities survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/24/deficit-reduction-rises-on-publics-agenda-for-obamas-second-term/), 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.

Six years ago, shortly after the Bush administration’s failed efforts to revamp immigration laws, 55% viewed immigration as a top priority. Since then, immigration has fallen in importance among members of both parties, but the decline has been particularly dramatic among Republicans.

Today, just 44% of Republicans view illegal immigration as a top priority, down from 69% in 2007 and 61% as recently as two years ago. Six years ago, illegal immigration was the second-highest priority after terrorism for Republicans; today, it is tied for 12th.

Fewer Democrats and independents also rate illegal immigration as a top priority than they did in 2007. Just 40% of independents and 35% of Democrats see illegal immigration as a top priority, down from 53% and 50%, respectively, in 2007.