According to recent Gallup polling, immigration has surpassed other issues like the economy and government as the top concern for Americans.
This echoes immigration concerns during Donald Trump’s presidency when he took a hardline stance on the issue.
“Significantly more Americans name immigration as the most important problem facing the U.S. (28%) than did a month ago (20%). Immigration has now passed the government as the most often cited problem, after the two issues tied for the top position the past two months. The government ranked first each month from January through November 2023,” the Gallup report read.
After Joe Biden reversed many of Trump’s immigration policies on taking office, illegal border crossings and the number of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally surged to record highs over the past three years.
The polling found 55% of Americans now see large numbers of illegal immigration as a critical threat.
“In the latest poll, 20% of Americans name the government as the most important problem, followed by the economy (12%) and inflation (11%). Immigration is the only issue that has shown meaningful change in the past month,” Gallup noted.
“While many Americans regard the economy, generally, or inflation, specifically, as the most important problem facing the U.S., far more name immigration. Immigration now sits alone at the top of the most important problem list, something it has done only occasionally in Gallup’s trend and not since 2019,” Gallup noted. “Although their economic assessments have improved, Americans remain largely dissatisfied with the state of the nation and the job federal leaders are doing.”
Trump has criticized Biden’s policies, claiming they allowed the murder of a university student allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant.
Trump reiterated pledges to seal the border and conduct mass deportations of illegal criminals if elected.
While economic issues remain important, the Gallup survey indicates immigration is uniquely salient for Americans and has risen significantly as a priority issue in the current election cycle.
“Crooked Joe Biden’s Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens!” Trump wrote. “The horrible murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley at the University of Georgia should have NEVER happened! The monster who took her life illegally entered our Country in 2022 … and then was released AGAIN by Radical Democrats in New York after injuring a CHILD!!”
“When I am your President, we will immediately Seal the Border, Stop the Invasion, and on Day One, we will begin the largest deportation operation of illegal CRIMINALS in American History!” Trump added. “May God Bless Laken Riley and her family!!! Our prayers are with you!”
