A new poll shows a large majority of Americans expressing displeasure about the Biden administration’s approach to border security and illegal immigration. The news comes as the number of migrants encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border reached an all-time high last month.
According to a recent Harvard-Harris poll, 56% of the public believes that the border is “largely open and laws are unenforced.” That number includes most Republicans, but also 57% of independents and 36% of Democrats.
Furthermore, 71% of Americans said that illegal immigration was getting “worse.” This figure included 88% of Republicans, 74% of independents and even 53% of Democrats.
Among the concerns about the country expressed by Americans, immigration ranked third, closely behind employment and inflation. Illegal immigration was noted as the top issue for 24% of Americans, including 19% of Republicans.
Overall, the American public expressed significant displeasure with President Joe Biden’s performance on the subject, with 36% approving of his immigration policy.
The best border policy is to end incentives for illegal migrants to be here. Democrats created them but Republicans aren’t blameless either. End funding for sanctuary cities. End blanket usage of asylum policies. End birthright citizenship for the kids of *illegal* migrants. https://t.co/zgpxHZsdAi
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) October 3, 2023
Biden also received poor numbers for his handling of economic issues. Biden recently said in an interview that “very shortly” the United States would become a “minority-White European country.”
He said that the White population should be treated “with respect” and that Democrats had “spoken less to their needs and fears or concerns.”
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that the number of encounters with migrants at the southern border reached 260,000 in September, which would exceed the previous high from December 2022 of just over 250,000.
Earlier this year, the White House announced an end to the Title 42 asylum policy put in place by former President Donald Trump. The announcement was met with a wave of attempted crossings and significant new concerns about border security.
In addition, a number of states began sending illegal immigrants northward. The effort, led by states such as Texas, Florida and Arizona resulted in thousands of migrants arriving in locations such as New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C.
