Most Icelanders Believe Immigration Laws Are Fair

The largest percentage of respondents polled believe Iceland’s immigration laws are fair, but opinions vary widely depending on political affiliation. In addition, more Icelanders believe asylum seeker laws are too strict than too lenient.

According to the results of a new Gallup poll, MBL reports, about one-third of Icelanders believe Iceland’s immigration laws are too strict, while 26% believe they are too lenient. The largest percentage, 40%, believe the immigration laws are fair.

However, where asylum seekers are concerned, the largest percentage of respondents – 42% – believe Iceland’s asylum seeker laws are too strict. 32% believe they are fair, and only 26% believe they are too lenient.

When these results are looked at based on the demographics of respondents, a clearer picture comes into focus. Young people, those living in the capital area and those with a university education were more likely to consider immigration laws too strict than older people, those living in the countryside, and those with only a secondary school education.

Greater divisions can also be seen based on political affiliation. Opposition party voters were more likely to consider immigration laws too strict while ruling coalition voters are more likely to believe they are too lenient. Left-Green voters had the largest percentage of those who believe Iceland’s immigration laws are too strict, with 69% saying as much. This was followed by voters for Bright Future (54%), the Social Democrats (52%) and the Pirate Party (44%).

At the same time, 49% of Progressive voters believe immigration laws are too lenient, with only 9% saying they are too strict. 39% of Independence Party voters consider the laws are too lenient, while 13% said they were too strict.