Who are the "Immigrants"?: How Whites' Diverse Perceptions of Immigrants Shape Their Attitudes.

This article investigates how non-Hispanic white Americans perceive the traits of immigrants living in the United States and how these perceptions influence immigration attitudes. Using an inductive approach and latent class analysis (LCA) on nationally representative survey data, the authors identify five distinct "immigrant archetypes"—stereotypical multidimensional profiles combining traits such as national origin, legal status, education, and occupation. Two archetypes stand out: a low-status, undocumented Latino male associated with the most restrictionist immigration views, and a higher-status, documented non-Latino immigrant linked to the most favorable attitudes. A survey experiment further suggests that exposure to these archetypes causally affects immigration attitudes, highlighting that perceptions clustered into archetypes may shape public opinion more strongly than objective immigrant characteristics. The findings underscore the complexity and heterogeneity of immigrant perceptions among whites and suggest that references to single immigrant traits may activate broader archetypal images influencing attitudes toward immigration policy.