Democrats, Independents Fuel Rise in Worry About Illegal Immigration
Far more Republicans still say that they worry ‘a great deal’ about illegal immigration. But the White House now needs to contend with a recent increase among Democrats and independents.
By Madeline Fitzgerald
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April 22, 2022, at 4:19 p.m.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Monday amid a growing divide within the Democratic Party over when the administration should consider ending a Trump-era policy of turning back immigrants at the border based on public health concerns.
The issue has been a thorny one for Biden. The president has disappointed advocates with his actions on immigration and the slow speed at which he has worked to reverse restrictive Trump-era policies. But immigration officials within his administration are reportedly wary that if the order is lifted at the end of May as scheduled, a crisis at the border could result. Either way, immigration is certain to be a Republican talking point heading into midterm elections in which most analysts project broad Democratic losses.
Recent polling underscores the fine line the president is walking. The number of Americans who say they worry "a great deal" about illegal immigration increased modestly this year to reach its highest level in 10 years, at 41 percent, according to a Gallup survey released this week. And while the uptick was only marginal, it was driven not by Republicans but by slight rises in Democrats and independents who expressed the concern.
https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2022-04-22/democrats-independents-fuel-rise-in-worry-about-illegal-immigration
