Staff Reports
In a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, a whopping 80% of Americans expressed their dissatisfaction with the federal government’s handling of the surge of immigrants at the southern border. This includes a staggering 89% of Republican respondents and nearly three-quarters of Democratic respondents who believe that the government’s efforts are either “somewhat bad” or “very bad.” These numbers are the highest they’ve been since President Joe Biden took office, and it’s no surprise given the chaos and disorder at the border.
The survey also showcased a clear divide along party lines in assessing the gravity of the situation. While over two-thirds of Republicans labeled it as a “crisis,” only 22% of Democrats agreed. Instead, a majority of them chose to downgrade it to a mere “major problem.” It’s clear that the left is downplaying the severity of the crisis, choosing to ignore the overwhelming evidence of the chaos unfolding at the border.
Americans are fed up with @JoeBiden’s failure to secure our border.
The border was secure when Trump was president.
We need President Trump back in the White House.⁰https://t.co/TiQWcXVAWL— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) February 19, 2024
Economic burdens and security concerns were identified as the top worries by the respondents, with the influx of immigrants posing a threat to both the economy and national security. To make matters worse, the survey failed to identify a bipartisan policy solution to address the crisis or major problem, as it’s being labeled. It’s disappointing that elected officials can’t come together to fix this dire situation, putting their partisan politics above the well-being of the country.
However, a ray of hope emerged from the survey as ideas for solutions did garner majority support across party lines. This included increasing the number of immigration judges and staff to expedite asylum decisions and creating more pathways for legal immigration. It’s heartening to see that there’s some common ground, but it’s clear that more needs to be done to tackle the root causes of the border crisis.
As expected, the border wall remains a contentious issue, with Republicans strongly backing its expansion while Democrats largely dismiss its effectiveness. It’s worth noting that former President Donald Trump has promised to resume the construction of the border wall should he be reelected, a move that clearly resonates with a significant portion of the population.
The survey’s release comes on the heels of House Republicans impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the Biden administration’s mishandling of the unprecedented influx of immigrants at the southern border. This historic move reflects the deep frustration felt by many Americans towards the current administration’s failure to get a grip on the border crisis.
The findings of the survey only serve to reinforce the widespread discontent with the government’s approach to immigration at the southern border. It’s a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to secure the border and protect the country’s interests.
