It has only been one week and a half since the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, and the man is already drawing attention to himself in his new position by signing an executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. This caused a big outrage worldwide, but the recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted online reveals very divided opinions, with nearly half of Americans agreeing with the U.S President's decision.
Poll found that 49% of Americans agree with the immigration ban
A Reuters poll conducted was conducted online on the 30th and 31st of January, and revealed that 49% of the American population agreed with Donald Trump's immigration ban. In other words, nearly half of the population "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed with their President's decision.
The percentage of citizens agreeing with this decision exceeds those of the citizens who disagreed, whether it is "strongly" or "somewhat", with the executive order (40%) and those who did not know what to think about the situation (10%).
The main reason leading many to both support and oppose the immigration ban is a feeling of safety regarding the recent rising of terrorist threat.
On one side, citizens see in the immigration ban an efficient way to face terrorism. On the other side, citizens believe the opposite and see in it nothing but a bad example set by their country.
A shared opinion from a religious point of view
If the main reason dividing Americans is a feeling of safety, there is nonetheless a clear division of political parties.
Democrats were more likely to oppose the executive order and defend both immigrants and refugees, while Republicans were in favor of the executive order.
However, this division was less distinct when it came to a religious point of view of the situation. Unlike what the U.S. President suggested, both Democrats and Republicans (respectively 72% and 45%) disagreed that despite refusing Muslim refugees, they should welcome Christian ones.
But regardless of a great division in opinions, the executive order banning immigration will bring its own lot of consequences, (good and bad) and only time will tell which side made the right decision.
