Saturday, July 13, 2024

Most Americans want to decrease immigration into the U.S., says Gallup poll

Anti-immigration sentiment is up dramatically from last year as the border is overwhelmed


A group of people, including many from China, walk along the wall after crossing the border with Mexico to seek asylum, near Jacumba, Calif., Oct. 24, 2023. Ecuador on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, announced the suspension of an agreement with … more >


By Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times - Friday, July 12, 2024

A majority of Americans want to slash immigration to the U.S., according to a Gallup poll that finds a sharp increase in the sentiment.

The polling company said 55% of U.S. adults want to decrease immigration compared to 41% who felt this way a year ago.



Gallup said it is the first time a majority called for a decrease since 2005, and the largest share since 58% in 2001 — the year of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The record high was 65%, recorded in 1993 and 1995.

“The shifts in attitudes have come after monthly illegal border crossings reached record levels late last year. They have dropped significantly since then, but remain above most monthly pre-pandemic totals,” the pollsters said.

Immigration consistently ranks among the top issues cited in Gallup polls, and 42% in the survey called the situation at the southern U.S. border a crisis.

Former President Donald Trump is making border security a central plank of his presidential campaign. He’s called for large deportation operations and says President Biden fumbled the border by revoking policies that worked well under the Trump administration.

Mr. Biden says recent moves to crack down are slowing the flow across the border and blamed Congress for refusing to pass an overhaul of immigration laws.


















People across all parties are looking for a tougher stance, according to Gallup. Compared to last year, there’s been a 15-point increase among Republicans (to 88%) wanting a decrease in immigration; an 11-point increase among independents (to 50%); and a 10-point increase among Democrats (to 28%).

Also, 53% of Americans favor the expansion or construction of walls along the U.S. border, the first time Gallup recorded a majority in favor of the idea. Border walls are a key part of Mr. Trump’s platform.

Gallup said 76% of Americans favor hiring new border patrol agents, and 63% want to allow the president or Homeland Security secretary to temporarily bar migrants from seeking asylum when the southern border is overwhelmed.

Seven in 10 Americans say immigrants who enter the country illegally should get a chance to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain requirements over a period, and support for that idea increases to 81% when it comes to those brought to the U.S. illegally as children.


• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.



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