Immigration surpasses inflation as top voter concern: poll 

Immigration has surged past inflation as the top issue facing the nation, according to a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll released Monday

The survey found that 35% of registered voters now rank immigration as the country’s No. 1 concern, jumping 7 points since last month.

Worries over price increases and the economy weren’t far behind, with 32% citing inflation as the most pressing issue in the US and 25% listing the “economy and jobs” as a top concern.

The immigration concerns have increased since the Biden administration reported a record-breaking 276,000 migrant encounters along the southern US border in December. 

Increased focus on the issue also comes as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle work to hammer out a deal that would unlock some $61 billion in aid for Ukraine in exchange for beefed-up border security and changes to the US immigration system, including asylum laws. 

Most voters – 68% – said they wanted measures in place that would make it tougher to get into the country illegally. Half of Democrats – 50% – agree with ramped-up security measures as well. 

Nearly two in three voters – 64% – said the immigration problem at the border is getting worse under President Biden’s leadership, and the vast majority – 77% – want the Biden administration to make a deal with Republican lawmakers that would increase border security.

Biden’s handling of the border crisis has resulted in 46% responding that are less likely to vote for the 81-year-old incumbent in 2024 and 30% saying that it has had no effect on their vote.

“For all the talk of international crises, Americans are focused on America and themselves first,” Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS-Harris poll, said in a statement. “They are very concerned about immigration, inflation and crime and that’s why many of them are saying they want a new president.”

A staggering 82% of voters at least “somewhat agree” that the US needs a new president, the poll found, including 68% of Democrats. 

Among Democrats, however, there was no clear consensus about who should run in Biden’s place, with 15% favoring Vice President Kamala Harris, 8% supporting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and 7% backing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). 

The Harvard CAPS / Harris poll surveyed  2,346 registered voters between Jan. 17-18.