1/n This panel dataset (i.e. a survey design wherein respondents are re-interviewed across time) took forever to code/arrange--it's broken into like 12 different files--but I now have some interesting new data to share. Much of it confirms what I've already reported elsewhere..
2/n ...with cross-sectional data: namely, that the shift in immig. attitudes (largely) among white libs predated the arrival of Trump. The panel structure allows me to better test causal hypotheses, but I've thus far been mainly examining the descriptives. So let's have a look.
3/n First, white liberals have become considerably less concerned about the impact of illegal immigration on the welfare state--a trend, at least in these data (which only goes as far back as 2013), which begins in 2014. Just 30% said they were not concerned in 2013, while 60%.. 
4/n...gave this response in 2017-2018. On the other hand, and again beginning in 2014, considerably more white liberals say they're 'very concerned' that strict immigration enforcement would subject illegal immigrants to a life of poverty in their home countries
5/n For a closer look, I've graphed these data by month, which actually traces the beginning of the trend to 2013.
6/n A similar pattern obtains for viewing immigration enforcement as 'unamerican'.
7/n The above by month/year (again, predates Trump)
8/n White liberals have also become much more concerned that enforcement would result in the harassment of hispanics
9/n In other direction, they've become much less concerned of the impact of illegal immigration on wages. The about-face here is pretty remarkable.
10/n The survey stopped fielding this item in 2016, but it nonetheless shows that white liberals have become significantly less concerned that easing enforcement would encourage more illegal immigration.
11/n The graph below is important insofar as it suggests that concerns about enforcement have little to do with economic considerations (I've always maintained that the immigration question is primarily a moral debate)
12/n And yet it's also possible that moral concerns color or underpin economic arguments (suddenly, white liberals are concerned about the government spending 'too much money')
13/n Finally, I created an index of 'moral considerations', which is graphed below. It reveals a familiar pattern: white liberals have become more morally concerned about immigration enforcement than even non-white liberals.
14/n In a future thread, I will make the case that this difference is at least partly related to the unique effects that certain moral emotions have on white liberals. Specifically, while non-white liberals and democrats do express feelings of shame about American history, such..
15/n ...feelings appear to primarily impact the [progressive] policy preferences (pro-immigration, pro-affirmative action etc.) of white liberals.
16/n I'm still unpacking this dataset, so more additions to this thread are forthcoming.
17/n Liberal attitude change is even observed (in this case, beginning in 2013) on more general questions
18/n Onto more specific policy questions, we see an across-the-board positive shift in support for the naturalization of illegal immigrants, with the most dramatic change among white liberals (2012, 48%-->81%, 2018).
19/n As suggested below, it's possible that respondents were reacting (with some lag) to Obama's June 2012 rose garden DACA address
20/n A separate panel survey reveals a similar pattern: i.e. white liberals (and here moderates) have become substantially more favorable towards illegal immigrants, while white conservatives have stood their ground.
