Quick Hit:

A recent Monmouth University poll reveals that a majority of Americans now support the construction of a southern border wall, with 61% viewing illegal immigration as a 'very serious problem'. This marks a significant shift in public opinion compared to previous years, reflecting growing concerns over immigration policies under President Biden's administration.

Key Details:

• The Monmouth University survey found that 53% of respondents favor building a border barrier, a significant increase from 35% in September 2017.
• 61% of Americans view illegal immigration as a 'very serious problem', with a majority of Republicans (91%) and independents (58%) agreeing with this sentiment.
• Despite the growing support for a border wall, Democratic support for the policy has fallen 14 percentage points in the past nine years.

Diving Deeper:

The Monmouth University survey, released on Monday, shows a marked shift in public opinion regarding the construction of a border wall. In September 2017, months after former President Donald Trump took office, 60% of Americans were opposed to a border wall, with only 35% in favor of construction. However, the recent poll indicates that 53% of respondents now favor building a border barrier, while opposition has dwindled to 46%.

Illegal immigration has emerged as a significant concern for many Americans, with 61% viewing it as a 'very serious problem'. This sentiment is particularly strong among Republicans, with 91% agreeing that unlawful immigration poses a 'very serious problem'. A majority of independents (58%) share this view, while 41% of Democrats express the same concern.

Despite the growing support for a border wall, Democratic backing for the policy has fallen 14 percentage points in the past nine years. This decline comes despite the fact that the border wall is the only Trump-era immigration policy that President Biden has followed in any form. Since taking office, Biden has rolled back his predecessor's 'Remain in Mexico' policy and Title 42, a pandemic-era mandate to immediately expel migrants who entered illegally from several countries.

The Monmouth poll also found that 61% of Americans back the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, which required asylum seekers to await immigration court hearings south of the US border. A majority of Republicans (86%) and independents (60%) also favor this policy. However, a majority of Democrats (54%) prefer that asylum seekers be allowed into the US ahead of their court dates.

The shift in public opinion regarding immigration policies and the construction of a border wall reflects growing concerns over the current administration's handling of these issues.