A majority of Vice President Kamala Harris’ supporters want a tougher stance on illegal immigration, as the public feels the U.S. has lost control of its southern border, according to a poll conducted exclusively by Newsweek magazine. It also shows that.
Immigration policy is a top concern for voters heading into the 2024 presidential election, and our poll shows that a majority of Harris voters overwhelmingly outrank Donald Trump when it comes to tackling the border crisis. I agree with his constituents.
Photo illustration: Newsweek/Getty
Harris voters want a tough approach on illegal immigration
The latest poll from October 2024 found that 68% of Americans say the federal government should take a tougher approach to immigration, with only 10 opposed to such measures. It was %. This is up from 62% when the poll began in July 2023, suggesting a growing consensus across party lines as a closer look at voting intentions takes place.
It’s no surprise that in an October 2024 poll, those planning to vote for Donald Trump this year favored a more hardline approach, but even among those planning to vote for Kamala Harris, this The number was 53%, a clear majority. In September, it was 58%.
This article is part of Newsweek’s Tracker poll, in which Americans are asked about topics such as abortion, immigration and the war in Ukraine over the past 16 months.
This data is based on a poll conducted exclusively by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on behalf of Newsweek between July 2023 and October 2024. A total of 19 polls were conducted, cumulatively asking 34,800 voters about the key issues in the 2024 election.
Republican Rep. Mark Green, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said in response to the poll that “it’s not surprising that the American people are crying out” for curbing immigration and tightening border security.
But Brad Jones, a political science professor at the University of California, Davis, told Newsweek that the need for “tough action” would have been addressed if Congress had passed a bipartisan border security bill.
“People who come to believe in variations on the theme that illegal immigration threatens American survival are much more likely to agree that a tough, punitive approach is needed,” Jones said. Ta.
“Ironically, both the argument about an ‘out-of-control border’ and the need for ‘tough action’ would have been featured in a bipartisan bill proposed in Congress earlier this year.
“Mr. Trump relied on this rhetoric to fuel his campaign, so he had a strong incentive to kill the bill. Mr. Trump was successful and, at least until now, has won on immigration. .”
Why is Kamala Harris so tough on immigrants?
Harris’ stance on immigration has evolved, and while she has supported some tough policies, she has also previously advocated for reforms focused on fairness and humane treatment.
The vice president supports comprehensive immigration reform aimed at providing a path to citizenship, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which protects young immigrants who came to the United States as children. He is also a strong supporter of “.
She has criticized Trump administration policies such as family separation and the border wall. She also promised to revive a failed bipartisan border security bill.
Harris faces pressure to address voters’ concerns about illegal immigration. She will have to balance appealing to Democrats and Republicans while solving perhaps the most complex challenge facing this country.
Julia Gerratt, deputy director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the nonpartisan think tank Immigration Policy Institute, told Barron’s that Harris’ position on illegal immigration is in response to polling, and that voters rank Harris among the most important policy issues on important policy issues. He said it shows he trusts Trump more than he does.
“Images of chaos at the border, large numbers of border arrivals, and the highly visible challenges facing large cities in meeting the needs of newly arrived migrants are all influencing public opinion on immigration. “There is,” said Gerratt.
Gelatt argues that Harris took a more conservative stance on immigration to increase support among voters who want to crack down on illegal immigration.
“Harris appears to be hoping that she can win voters’ trust by focusing on the need for more border security. In fact, some polling data suggests that Harris is tied with Trump on this issue. This suggests that the gap between
“At the same time, we are excited about Harris’ focus on border issues and more traditional Democratic priorities on immigration, such as opening a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and Dreamers who have been in the U.S. for decades.” I’ve seen it combined.
“At a time when even Democratic voters are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the way things are going, Democrats are “The time has come to reconsider our position.”
Americans think America has lost control of its borders
Data shows Americans believe the federal government has lost control of its borders.
When asked whether they believe the federal government has lost control of the border, between 58% and 68% of Americans said yes over the past 16 months, peaking in February 2024. In the latest opinion poll in October 2024, 63% answered “I think so.” Only 27% said yes, while only 27% said no.
Just over a quarter of the population expresses confidence in the Biden-Harris border record, which could have a negative impact on Kamala Harris’ performance in the November election.
This sentiment cuts across demographics, but there are significant differences based on party affiliation. Nearly 80% of those who voted for President Trump say they believe the United States is unable to control its borders, and that number is steadily increasing.
By contrast, Harris voters remain divided, with about half agreeing that border control is impossible and half expressing confidence in the federal government’s handling of the issue.
The data collected shows changes in the American public’s attitudes toward issues related to immigration policy.
“Joe Biden and his ‘border czar’ Kamala Harris may try to sweep this historic border crisis under the surface, but the numbers don’t lie,” said Greene.
“Since the inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration, CBP has [Customs and Border Protection] We have recorded over 10 million encounters nationwide.
“At the same time, ICE’s non-custodial docket continues to explode, creating tens of thousands of known criminals across our communities.
Jones told Barron’s that the Republican Party, led by the Trump campaign, “has been successful in controlling the narrative around the border.”
“The Harris campaign has been less effective in countering claims, most of which are inaccurate, that the border is being violated.
“But because of this, many Democrats who have been subjected to a certain narrative that the border is out of control are endorsing the belief that the United States has lost control of the border.
“No matter the circumstances, Republicans, especially Trump Republicans, will support the belief that the United States, and the Biden administration in particular, cannot control the border.
“The story of the border being violated is Mr. Trump’s signature narrative and one of his most effective metaphors.
“Trump has promoted a narrative about immigrant crime that has stalled, despite the fact that claims of high levels of immigrant crime are completely false.”
According to the Cato Institute, immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens.
Immigration policy has traditionally been a rallying point for conservatives, but with support for tougher immigration policies among Harris voters, these new numbers mean the debate is reaching a broader electorate. This shows that it resonates with people.
Immigration will continue to be a top issue as voting day approaches. Data suggests both major parties may face increasing pressure from their bases to adopt stronger policies, potentially leading to changes in the policy platforms of candidates like Harris. Ms. Harris must respond to evolving views of her constituents while appealing to a broader electorate.
The numbers point to one clear conclusion. Americans, regardless of their political leanings, are increasingly critical of the U.S. government’s handling of immigration, and many want tougher measures to be taken to secure the border.
