New poll finds a majority of Americans welcome Middle Eastern refugees

Conducted in the last two weeks of May, the poll asked some 1,540 respondents whether they would support or oppose taking in refugees from the Middle East’s conflict zones if they were screened for security risks. Almost 60 percent said they would support the measure. The United States does already have an extensive vetting process in place involving various governmental agencies, with applications taking well over a year to process.

The phrasing of the question — including the nuance of screening guarantees — likely influenced the result. Other polls on the subject of refugees yielded less decisive majorities, or even indicated public opinion was more opposed to a refugee influx than inclined to welcome it.

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks last November, a Washington Post-ABC News poll asked respondents: “Do you support or oppose the United States taking in refugees from the conflicts in Syria and other Mideast countries after screening them for security?” Some 54 percent at the time said they opposed taking in these refugees.