How immigration and the southern border became a big issue for this New England state

Johnny Burgess, 55, is thinking about the southern border when he casts his ballot this November. Burgess also lives over 2,000 miles from the border he says is being taken advantage of. “I mean, we're all one America,” said Burgess, a resident of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. The self-employed registered Republican is like many in his state – particularly his state’s party – who say illegal immigration is top of mind in the 2024 election. Almost a quarter of New Hampshire voters surveyed said immigration is the most important issue facing the country, in a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll from January, just ahead of the state’s first in the nation Republican presidential primary. Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide Exclusive:It's not the economy, stupid. In NH, democracy is the top issue for Dems, independents The issue led the economy, which was number one for 17% of respondents, and abortion, which earned only 6% of voters’ top concern. New Hampshire Republicans specifically ranked immigration above all else, with 51% saying it was most important to them. Republicans have worked to push immigration as the focus of the 2024 election − an issue their party tends to score well on − especially compared to other hot buttons like abortion. The strong reception in places like New Hampshire may signal an opening for the GOP in the race for the White House and down the ballot. A University of New Hampshire poll in March found Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump with a slight edge over Democratic candidate President Joe Biden when voters were asked who they trusted more on the issue. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.