Majority of Americans not satisfied with immigration levels: Gallup

Sixty percent of Americans say they are dissatisfied with the level of immigration into the country today, a substantial increase from 2014, according to a Gallup report released Thursday.

The number of Americans saying they are dissatisfied with current immigration levels increased by six points from last year, but is still lower than the 2008 high of 72 percent. By contrast, 33 percent of Americans are satisfied with current levels of immigration, Gallup found.

The increase in the number of Americans dissatisfied with the immigration levels seems to be mostly driven by self-identified Republicans, although dissatisfaction among Democrats is also up slightly, Gallup said.

More than four out of every five self-identified Republicans, or 84 percent, say they are dissatisfied with the current level of immigration, a figure that towers above the number of independents, at 54 percent, or Democrats at 44 percent, who feel similarly, according to Gallup.

The increasing level of dissatisfaction comes at a time when immigration is once again a major issue in U.S. politics. Late last year, U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive action protecting from deportation some immigrants who are living illegally in the country.

Obama's disputed actions may have had some effect on how Americans perceive immigration levels, providing Republicans additional fodder with which to challenge him.

While Obama's move has been politically popular among Hispanic Americans, it remains controversial. Republican lawmakers who oppose the Obama's executive action on immigration are finding different venues to challenge the decision. This is happening via legislative measures, and will perhaps make it through the court system, Gallup noted. Endite