The latest Gallup survey, conducted between April 1-22, found that 27% of Americans ranked immigration as the most important issue facing the United States for a third consecutive month, making it the longest consecutive stretch for the immigration issue in the past 24 years. This trend began in December 2023 when immigration tied with the government as the top concern for Americans, which coincided with a record number of migrant encounters at the southern border. The issue of immigration surpassed the government as the most important issue for Gallup respondents in February, a month in which a controversial bipartisan border and foreign aid package failed in the Senate. This year marks the first time immigration has been ranked as the most important issue for Americans for several consecutive months since Gallup began updating the most important problem question monthly in March 2001.
Gallup assessed that immigration stands alone as the most politically polarizing issue in the past 25 years of their measurement. The surge of migrants at the southern border in December brought even more focus on the issue, and while attempted crossings have slightly decreased, they are expected to rise as spring continues. President Joe Biden’s approval rating for his handling of immigration has been consistently low, and with the presidential election approaching, immigration remains a significant vulnerability for his reelection campaign. Gallup respondents have ranked the economy as the top issue 101 times over the past 24 years, followed by the government as the most important issue 85 times, and the Iraq War as the top issue 50 times.
In the most recent Gallup poll, 48% of Republicans and 25% of Independents cited immigration as the most important problem, while only 8% of Democrats mentioned it as their top concern. The percentage of Republicans who identified immigration as the top issue has decreased since hitting a record high of 57% in February. In 2019, as many as 20% of Democrats cited immigration as the top issue. The latest survey showed Independents mentioning immigration at a new high, though similar readings were recorded in 2019 and recent months, according to Gallup. This disparity in views across party lines highlights the political polarization surrounding the issue of immigration, with Republicans placing greater importance on the issue compared to Democrats.
The ongoing high ranking of immigration as the most important issue for Americans reflects the impact of the record surge in migrants at the southern U.S. border in December and the subsequent political discourse on the topic. The Biden administration’s handling of immigration has been under intense scrutiny, with persistent critiques of its approach to border control and migrant policies. As the presidential election draws closer, the issue of immigration is expected to remain a key point of contention between political parties, with differing views on how to address the challenges posed by immigration. The visibility of immigration as a top concern for Americans underscores the need for effective policies and bipartisan solutions to address the complex issues surrounding immigration in the United States.
