Did Biden voters just realize they made a mistake?
A recent poll conducted by Redfield and Wilton exclusively for Newsweek reveals a surprising sentiment among Americans who voted for President Joe Biden in the last presidential election: a notable proportion of them miss the immigration policies of former President Donald Trump.
Contrary to expectations, the poll found that 38 percent of Biden voters support the construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, while only 34 percent oppose the idea. Moreover, a significant 25 percent neither support nor oppose a border wall. Interestingly, a considerable 67 percent of Trump 2020 voters still support the idea of a border wall, reflecting a broader sentiment among Americans. These findings challenge conventional assumptions about partisan views on immigration.
Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a border security expert and professor at George Mason University, commented on this unexpected trend, noting the influence of fear-based politics on both Democrats and Republicans. Despite efforts by Democrats to present alternative perspectives on border security, the narrative shaped by conservatives, particularly during Trump’s presidency, has had a lasting impact.
While border barriers have been constructed under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the term “border wall” has become emblematic of Trump’s immigration agenda, with 458 miles built during his presidency. However, upon assuming office, President Biden halted all border wall construction, signaling a shift in policy direction.
Nevertheless, immigration remains a contentious issue for the Biden administration, with Republicans criticizing its perceived leniency compared to Trump-era policies. The surge of migrants crossing into the U.S. has further complicated Biden’s governance, posing challenges to his re-election prospects.
According to the poll, a majority of Americans perceive the U.S. as facing a migrant crisis, with concerns about border control resonating across partisan lines. This consensus reflects a broader failure of political elites to effectively address immigration issues over the years, contributing to the current predicament.
Peter Skerry, a political science professor at Boston College, emphasized the necessity for presidential candidates to prioritize immigration in their campaigns, foreseeing it as a pivotal issue in the upcoming 2024 election. However, the Biden administration’s response to the immigration challenge remains under scrutiny, with criticisms of a reactive rather than proactive approach.
Correa-Cabrera suggested that Biden could reshape the immigration narrative by revisiting his 2020 campaign stance, advocating for a more proactive strategy. However, without substantial policy changes, the immigration issue is likely to dominate the political landscape leading up to the election.
As the Redfield and Wilton poll indicates, immigration will continue to be a defining issue for American voters, underscoring the urgency for effective policy responses from the Biden administration. With the specter of border crossings looming, the handling of immigration could significantly influence the outcome of the 2024 election.
