In a recent Gallup poll, Americans have identified immigration as the most important issue facing the United States, marking the first time since 2019 that the topic has taken the top spot. According to the poll conducted from Feb. 1 through Feb. 20, 28% of respondents cited immigration as the primary concern, a significant increase from 20% just a month ago. More than half of those surveyed expressed that the “large numbers of immigrants entering the United States illegally” pose a critical threat to U.S. vital interests.
The surge in concern about immigration is largely attributed to Republicans, with 57% of Republican respondents selecting immigration as the top issue, compared to 37% in January. While there was a slight increase among independents, there was no substantial change among Democrats in their perception of immigration as the most pressing issue.
This shift in public sentiment comes amid ongoing debates and policy discussions in Washington regarding immigration and border control. House Republicans recently rejected a bipartisan border bill, causing Speaker Mike Johnson to declare it dead on arrival. Former President Donald Trump, expected to be the GOP nominee for president, actively urged members of his party to block the bipartisan proposal, preventing President Joe Biden from securing a significant immigration policy achievement ahead of the upcoming November election.
The poll also revealed that 20% of respondents identified “Government” as the top issue facing the country, making it the second-highest percentage among the options. Government had previously ranked first in January and consistently held the top spot from January 2023 to November 2023.
The survey involved 1,016 adults and was conducted via telephone, with a margin of sampling error of +/-4 percentage points.
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