According to a recent Gallup poll, a majority of American adults are in favor of reducing immigration levels into the United States. The survey, conducted by Gallup, revealed that 55% of respondents want fewer immigrants to come to the country, while 41% either support maintaining current immigration levels or increasing the number of migrants.
Interestingly, all three political affiliations – Republicans, Democrats, and independents – have shown an increased inclination towards supporting reduced immigration levels compared to previous years. Republicans, in particular, overwhelmingly favor a decrease in immigration, with 88% of respondents expressing this view.
The survey also found a shift in public opinion regarding border security measures. Support for expanding the construction of walls along the U.S.-Mexico border has increased from 40% in 2019 to 53% in 2023. Additionally, the percentage of Americans in favor of deporting all illegal immigrants back to their home countries has risen from 37% in 2019 to 47% in 2023.
These changing attitudes towards immigration and border security come amidst a backdrop of increased illegal border crossings during the Biden administration. Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, over 10 million individuals have unlawfully crossed the border, with 1.7 million recorded as illegal immigrant gotaways.
As immigration becomes a prominent issue in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race, polls indicate that a significant portion of voters are dissatisfied with President Biden's handling of the issue. Only 36% of voters approve of Biden's performance on immigration, while a majority support measures such as increasing deportations, building a border wall, and penalizing businesses that hire illegal immigrants.