Americans concerned with undocumented immigration at two-decade high, poll finds

A new Gallup poll released on Tuesday found that American concern over illegal immigration is at a two-decade high, with six in 10 adults worrying about the issue. 

According to the poll’s results, 41% of Americans said they are greatly concerned with illegal immigration, the largest percentage in 2007 when 45% were deeply worried about the issue. 

Around 60% of those surveyed worry a fair amount about the issue. Only 17% said they worry a little about the issue, and 23% said they do not worry at all.

The poll was conducted from March 1 to 18, ahead of the Biden administration’s announcement that it would drop Title 42, a Trump-era measure that allowed border officials to turn away migrants in an attempt to stop the spread of the pandemic.  

The poll also found that illegal immigration is an issue that has become increasingly more partisan throughout the years, with both parties proposing opposing solutions. 

Democrats have shown less concern about the issue throughout the years: 18% said they were deeply concerned, compared to 42% in 2006 and 28% in 2018. Meanwhile, the latest poll found that 44% said they were “not concerned at all.” 

Republicans, on the other hand, have seen an increase in concern about illegal immigration, with 68% being deeply concerned compared to 29% in 2001. Only 5% of Republicans were not concerned at all. 

When it comes to Title 42, many Democrats have praised the removal of the measure. Instead, Republicans are worried that the halt of the program will accelerate the number of immigrants crossing the border. 

Independent voters are also increasingly worrying about immigration, with 39% worried a great deal compared to 30% in 2018, the poll found.

The concern over immigration also varies by geographic region. The percentage of Americans worried about the issue is greater in the South (48%) and East (41%) than in the West (37%) or the Midwest (34%). 

“As the Gallup data show, this will only mirror the polarization among Americans on illegal immigration, with Republicans highly troubled by it and Democrats not seeing it as a major problem,” said Gallup.