Poll: Voters Believe Illegal Immigration Is Increasing, Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Exclusive)

Anew Messenger/Harris poll conducted by HarrisX found that voters believe illegal immigration to the United States is increasing, but support a compromise that would strengthen border security while giving a pathway to citizenship to migrants who entered the country illegally. Sixty-seven percent said illegal immigration is increasing, while 23% said immigration levels have remained the same. Record levels of migrants have been apprehended at the border during President Joe Biden's term, and some border towns in recent weeks have expressed being overwhelmed as a surge of asylum seekers are coming to the border. The Biden administration has attempted to mitigate illegal immigration at the border by launching a system, called the CBP One app, for migrants to try and schedule appointments at ports of entry and announcing a new process for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans to be temporarily paroled into the U.S. In August, border officials encountered 232,972 migrants along the southwest border. Customs and Border Protection said that over 211,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans had arrived lawfully under the parole processes. The poll, conducted online September 22-23 among 1,011 registered voters, found that an overwhelming majority (81%) support increased security along the U.S.-Mexico border, and 70% support increasing deportations of immigrants who entered the country illegally. However, voters also express broad support for taking in civilian refugees trying to escape violence and war (66%) and allowing those who came to the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country (65%). Sixty percent said they support making it easier to sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States, 59% said they would support granting temporary protected status to immigrants while they try to obtain a U.S. work permit, and 55% support establishing a way for immigrants who entered the country illegally to stay legally. Read More Clogged US Immigration Courts Aggravating the Southern Border Crisis: Report Most Americans Believe Immigration Is Good for the Country: Poll Biden and Republicans Need Immigration Reform — Now A Pragmatic American’s Guide to the Immigration Problem Revealed: The Financial Burden of Illegal Immigration 25 Republican Governors Call on Biden to Release Immigration Data A family of migrants from Guatemala at the border near Lukeville, Ariz., on Tuesday. A family of migrants from Guatemala at the border near Lukeville, Ariz., on Tuesday.AP Photo/Matt York Former President Donald Trump, the most likely GOP presidential nominee in 2024, made building a wall across the southern border and hardline immigration policies a cornerstone of his political philosophy. However, 50% of Republicans support allowing those who came illegally to the country as children to remain in the country, and 56% support taking in civilian refugees. “Two-thirds of voters believe illegal immigration continues to increase, making it a major sleeper issue in the 2024 election,” said Dritan Nesho, chief pollster and CEO at HarrisX. “Nevertheless voters are open to a compromise solution that strengthens borders and gives a pathway to citizenship and turns those already in the country into taxpayers.” Last week, the Biden administration granted temporary legal status to an estimated 472,000 Venezuelan migrants, allowing them to live and work legally in America for the next 18 months. Fifty-three percent of respondents said they were aware of this development while 47% were unaware. Forty-four percent of voters support Biden’s decision to grant TPS to Venezuelans while they try to obtain a U.S. work permit, 43% oppose the move, and 13% are unsure. Fifty-two percent said that granting more protections for immigrants to stay in the U.S. will lead to more workers that contribute to taxes and the economy, while 48% — including 69% of Republicans — said it would take away jobs from Americans. The margin of error for this poll was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.