Washington – In the lead-up to 2025, a growing number of Americans are prioritizing immigration as a key issue for the government, especially with a new Republican administration on the horizon. President-elect Donald Trump has made bold promises regarding mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, resonating with a significant portion of the population.
According to a December survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly half of U.S. adults identified immigration and border-related matters as critical issues, a notable rise from about one-third in a previous poll. This shift indicates a heightened focus on immigration across various demographic groups, including both parties, men and women, and individuals of all ages. However, Republican respondents have shown a marked increase in concern, with around 70% highlighting immigration or the U.S.-Mexico border wall as a priority, compared to just 45% two years prior.
Trump’s return to the White House signals a renewed emphasis on immigration as a focal point of his leadership, contrasting sharply with the more open policies of his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. Despite the growing urgency surrounding immigration, economic issues remain a major concern for many Americans, with about 75% stating that the government should prioritize a range of economic challenges, a trend consistent with findings from previous years. Specific economic concerns cited include inflation, unemployment, and taxes, each drawing the attention of approximately one-third of the population.
Foreign policy and healthcare also rank as significant issues, with health-related concerns closely trailing behind. Among Republicans, there is a clear desire for governmental action on immigration; about 80% emphasize the importance of economic matters, while 70% regard immigration or border security as crucial. In contrast, Democrats primarily focus on economic issues, often mentioning healthcare as their secondary concern. This marks a slight increase from last year, with around 40% of Democrats highlighting health issues, while one-third points to political issues, environmental matters, or immigration as priorities.
Interestingly, even within the Democratic ranks, there has been an uptick in the recognition of immigration as an essential issue, rising from only 20% last year who thought it should be a government priority. Many Democrats, however, do not align with Trump’s stringent methods. Some argue for better border management without resorting to mass deportations, advocating instead for improved pathways to citizenship. Conversely, Republican sentiments converge around themes like “illegal immigration” and support for stronger border enforcement measures.
The focus on immigration and the economy addresses significant challenges faced during Biden’s presidency, which saw soaring inflation and increased migration levels. Throughout 2023, illegal border crossings hit an unprecedented high, reinforcing Trump’s emphasis on stricter border security policies. Although numbers decreased in 2024 following Biden’s measures targeting asylum claims, Trump criticized these efforts as insufficient.
Young Americans, particularly those under 30, place a strong emphasis on economic issues. This demographic is more attuned to discussing inflation and personal financial matters, with about 40% mentioning inflation, compared to roughly 25% of older adults. Furthermore, 25% of young adults express a desire for government focus on housing costs, juxtaposed with merely 10% of those aged 60 or older.
While Trump improved his standing among young voters in 2024 compared to the previous election cycle, many of these voters were primarily motivated by economic issues rather than immigration. Current sentiments suggest that although younger individuals are increasingly vocal about both economic challenges and immigration, their concerns about immigration are less pronounced than those of older generations. Only about a third of adults under 30 consider immigration a priority, contrasted with about 60% of those aged 60 and above.
Older Americans share concerns about the economy but have different priorities; for instance, 10% of those over 60 want the government to concentrate on Social Security, a topic that is rarely mentioned by younger adults.
