Who Are the Asylum-seekers?

With roughly 2.3 million migrants awaiting asylum decisions, this project examines how Americans perceive asylum-seekers relative to refugees and undocumented migrants, and how perceptions vary by respondent race. Using a conjoint-design survey, respondents evaluate randomized hypothetical migrant profiles across multiple attributes. The analysis estimates average marginal component effects for each attribute, tests interactions among key variables, and assesses heterogeneity by respondent racial identity. The study aims to clarify which migrant characteristics shape public acceptance of asylum-seekers versus other statuses, and whether respondent race conditions these judgments. Findings will improve understanding of public attitudes toward different migrant groups and inform messaging and policy debates about asylum and immigration.