Immigration has overtaken both the economy and the issue of healthcare as the most important factor determining the vote of Americans, as the November midterm elections approach, according to a new opinion poll from Reuters/Ipsos. The new data suggests that the announcement of the zero-tolerance policy by the Trump administration in May increased the importance of immigration to become Americans’ top priority.
The poll, which was conducted between 28 June and 2 July, found that 15% of registered voters in the US now hold immigration as their top issue, just ahead of the economy, at 14%. 26% of Republican voters say that immigration is their main issue, which is a rise of 14% from the results of a similar poll that was conducted at the start of June.
Registered Democrats have healthcare as the issue that concerns them the most, at 16%, with the economy on 14% and immigration at seven. The approval rating for the handling of immigration by President Donald Trump has barely altered since the start of 2018, with 52% disapproving.
The immigration issue continues to divide Americans along partisan lines, with 94% of Democrats disapproving of the handling of the immigration issue by President Donald Trump and his administration. This is compared to 81% of Republicans who approve of the stance taken.