Raymond La Raja, Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the UMass Poll, is quoted in an article examining the latest poll results finding one-third of Americans believe in the “Great Replacement” theory, which claims the U.S. is at risk of losing its national and cultural identity as a result of the growing influx of immigrants to the country. “We can see why immigration is such a boiling issue,” La Raja says. “One-third of Americans believe that the growth in the number of immigrants in the country means that America is in danger of losing its culture and identity. But 41% of voters disagree. A remarkable 37% of voters think some elected officials want more immigration to bring in obedient voters who will vote for them, while 33% disagree. Grappling with immigration policy will continue to be among the most challenging tasks for political leadership. There is no dodging the strong emotions that drive people’s politics on this issue.” ( MassLive, 10/26/22; News Office release)