Poll: Americans say homegrown jihadists greater threat than foreign-born

The majority of Americans believe homegrown jihadists are a greater threat to the United States than foreign terrorists, according to a new poll released Thursday.

Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed for a Quinnipiac University National poll say jihadists raised in the country are America’s most likely terrorism danger. Sixteen percent say terrorists hiding among Syrian refugees are a great threat, while 17 percent say radicalized foreign visitors are.

The same survey found 52 percent of American voters were opposed to letting Syrian refugees into the U.S. Among political lines: 68 percent of Democrats would accept refugees, while 84 percent of Republicans would oppose it. Independent voters were divided as 46 percent support accepting refugees while 49 percent opposed the idea.

The survey also found 6 out of every 10 people said they worried the government wasn’t going far enough to protect them against terrorism.

The poll comes as momentum to slow the flow of Syrian and Iraqi refugees to the United States grows.

Opinions on security screening for refugees depended on how much voters know, Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll said.

“It takes time and meticulous vetting to be accepted as a Syrian refugee,” he said in a written statement. “Voters who know that are far more accepting than those who may not understand the process.”