Democratic Support for Expanding Border Wall Surges by Double Digits: Poll

Newsweek

3 hours ago

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Democrats' support for a southern border remains minimal compared to Republicans, though the percentage of left-leaning Americans who support expansion of a wall between the United States and Mexico has increased double digits in the past six years, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center.
Why It Matters
Border crossings have drastically decreased under the current administration of President Donald Trump, fulfilling one of his major campaign promises to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country. Trump's mass deportation efforts, which have included immigrant raids criticized by portions of the American public, have extended into other federal policies including more severe travel bans and visa restrictions.
What To Know
A 56 percent majority of Americans now favor expanding the wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, up from 46 percent in 2019, according to a survey of 5,044 people conducted from June 2 to June 8 by the Pew Research Center.
While Republican support for a border wall remains high, with roughly 88 percent supporting wall expansion, Democratic support for expansion has increased to 27 percent—up from 14 percent in 2019.
Migrants turn themselves in to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing over a section of border wall into the U.S. on January 5 in Ruby, Arizona.
Migrants turn themselves in to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing over a section of border wall into the U.S. on January 5 in Ruby, Arizona.In total, 42 percent approve and 47 disapprove of the Trump administration's overall approach to immigration. Divisions in views on immigration shift based on partisanship.
About 78 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents approve of the administration's approach to immigration, including 51 percent who strongly approve. Just 12 percent disapprove.
Democratic antipathy toward the Trump administration's policies are more striking, with 81 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners disapproving. Among them, 53 percent strongly disapprove. About 9 percent approve.
Respondents also said that current policies will cost taxpayers more money (53 percent) rather than save money (29 percent). A majority also said that these policies will make the U.S. economy weaker (46 percent) instead of stronger (34 percent).
Just about two in 10 (19 percent) said immigration policies won't have much of an economic impact either way.
Terrell County, Texas, Sheriff Thad Cleveland told Newsweek on Tuesday that his community near the southern border had a little activity in March and April, but May and June have been "really slow."
He said there's also a Department of Defense presence.
"I attribute the decrease to Trump's voice on the issue and additional support brought to the border," Cleveland said. "During the Biden administration I often said it would take a president with a strong voice letting the world know you can't come to America, [it] would have the biggest impact for illegal entries.
"I still think we, Terrell County, will see an increase as other portions of the border continue to see resources."
Cleveland does wonder how long the policies and resources will be sustained, saying that eventually "something has to give." He's looking to lawmakers and not Trump for long-term answers.
"President Trump has done his part, now Congress must do their part and pass legislation to continue to add technology, infrastructure and manpower, as well as ensuring a future president can't come in and open the borders as was done the previous four years," the sheriff said.
Following the heightened period of the COVID-19 pandemic, border crossings under former President Joe Biden surged from the end of 2021 through early 2024, hitting a peak of 370,883 in December 2023.
The Pew survey also shows that Hispanic (83 percent) and Black (78 percent) adults are more likely than Asian (63 percent) and white (58 percent) adults to say that undocumented immigrants should be able to stay if they meet certain requirements.
Overall, 38 percent of white adults and 30 percent of Asian adults said there should be a national effort to deport immigrants illegally in the country. In contrast, 17 percent of Black adults and 14 percent of Hispanic adults shared that sentiment.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in its announcement Monday about a new app for legal border crossings: "Those who use the CBP Home mobile app to self-deport receive cost-free travel, forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States, and a $1,000 exit bonus, paid after their return is confirmed through the app. If they already submitted their intent to depart using previous versions of CBP Home, they will not need to resubmit."
What Happens Next
The Trump administration's immigration efforts have received praise from none other than immigrants in the U.S. Immigrant voters, who favored Democrats by 32 points on immigration policy in 2020, now trust Republicans more on the issue by 8 points—a seismic 40-point swing in four years, according to an analysis of the American National Election Studies (ANES) by CNN's Harry Enten.