Americans’ view of Arabs in the US

People exit immigration after arriving from Dubai on Emirates Flight 203 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, on January 28, 2017. A big majority of American citizens surveyed said they believe Arab immigrants have made an effort to integrate themselves in US and Western societies. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

American citizens surveyed in “The Arab Image in the US” poll gave their opinions on immigration in the US — a major issue during last year’s election.
A total of 63 percent of the respondents said they believe Arab immigrants have made an effort to integrate themselves in US and Western societies, while 37 percent think they have failed to do so.
But there was a clear political divide over the issue: 83 percent of the respondents who affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party have a positive view about Arab immigrants adapting to life in the West, compared to just 37 percent of the Republican voters.
The panel was also asked about attitudes toward Muslims at home. A total of 53 percent said they are concerned that an increase in Islamophobic statements by politicians, organizations and other individuals would increase the number of hate crimes against Muslims or Arabs in the US — with 32 percent saying they are “very concerned.” Democrat voters were found to be significantly more concerned about this than the Republican voters.