Perceived Economic Contributions Increase Positivity toward Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants contribute to the US economy by participating in the labor force, paying taxes, and starting businesses. They do so under constant fear of deportation and while being barred from government assistance programs. Nevertheless, misconceptions about how they affect the job market and public finance persist, exacerbating animus and hindering policy reforms. Across three survey experiments and three national samples of Americans, I assess two informational interventions to increase positivity toward this group: facts, which tackle misinformation, and narratives, which foster empathy. Both interventions yield positive results overall, with anecdotal accounts of "hard-working" undocumented immigrants proving most effective among those most negatively predisposed against them. The persuasive success of economic considerations in this domain has concrete implications for policymakers and advocates in their efforts to rally public support for immigration reform and against mass deportations. Further, these findings complicate motivated reasoning accounts and suggest belief updating is possible, provided information is tailored to the intended audience.