Most Americans want no amnesty for illegal immigrants: poll

A new survey has revealed that a majority of Americans believe that the Biden administration should not grant full amnesty and citizenship to immigrants undergoing an "asylum review" process or those that are in the country illegally.

The poll, conducted by The Trafalgar Group in partnership with Convention of States Action of 1079 likely general election voters, found that just 14 percent of Americans overall say that people in the country illegally should be granted citizenship and amnesty.

59.5 percent of Americans believe that "those in review should complete their reviews and either be removed or granted asylum, and those here illegally should be expelled.

15 percent said that "only those in asylum review should be granted amnesty and citizenship," while 14.3 percent said that "both those in asylum review and those who entered illegally should be granted amnesty and citizenship.

Less than three percent of Hispanic voters, 2.8 percent, said that illegal immigrants should be granted amnesty and citizenship.

A slight majority of Democrats said that neither group should be granted asylum or citizenship, with 36 percent responding as such.

30.6 percent of Democrats said that both groups should be granted asylum and citizenship, while 13.1 percent said that only those in asylum review should be granted amnesty and citizenship.

Among all political parties, Democrats had the highest percentage of "not sure" responses, at 20.3 percent. 

The vast majority of Republican voters said that neither group should be granted asylum and citizenship, at 71 percent. 14.7 percent said just those in asylum review should be granted citizenship and amnesty, while just 6.1 said that both groups should be granted citizenship and amnesty.

61.9 percent of independent voters said that neither group should be granted amnesty and citizenship, 16.4 percent said just those in asylum review should be granted amnesty and citizenship, and 12.9 percent said that both those in asylum review and illegal immigrants should be granted amnesty and citizenship.

Additionally, the survey found that a majority of Americans say that completing the border wall that was started under the Trump administration and halted in the Biden administration is "essential to US National Security," with 62.6 percent responding as such.

A vast majority of Democrats, 86.1 percent, did not support the wall, while a majority of Republicans, 92.9 percent, and independents, 57.2 percent, supported the wall.

The survey also asked Americans "If the Federal Government fails to address the southern border crisis, do you believe state governors have an obligation to step in to address it," to which 62.2 percent said "yes."

68.9 percent of Democrats said that state governors do not have an obligation to step in, while 89.2 percent of Republicans and 58.8 percent of independents said state governors do have an obligation.

The survey was conducted between January 9 and 12 of 1079 likely general election voters and has a margin of error of 2.9 percent.

"While Democrats continue to pander to Hispanics and pretend they want open borders and mass illegal immigration, the data overwhelmingly shows that they, as American citizens, want illegal immigrants expelled from the country. And while it is the Biden Administration’s responsibility to secure the border and expel those trying to enter illegally–and it has utterly failed to do so for two years–the new Congress has the ability to exercise vigorous oversight and put heat on the White House. Clearly, such oversight has the strong backing of voters,” said Mark Meckler, President of Convention of States. 

"But our numbers also point out that voters desire immediate action from their state and local officials, and will not tolerate ‘blame Washington’ rhetoric without substantive local action. The fact that Washington is failing does not absolve Governors, especially border state Governors, from immediately taking active steps to protect citizens within their jurisdictions," he added.

The survey comes as December marked another record-high month of encounters at the southern border, with US Customs and Border Patrol Data revealing that there were 251,487 encounters that month.

The 2023 fiscal year has already seen 717,660 encounters, surpassing 2020’s total of 458,088, which was marked with low numbers as the Trump administration enacted Title 42, and already surpassing a third of 2021’s total, 1,734,686.

In November, Senator Chuck Schumer declared that all illegal immigrants residing in the US should receive citizenship, citing a worker shortage.

"Now more than ever, we’re short of workers, we have a population that is not reproducing it on its own with the same level that it used to, the only way that we’re going to have a great future in America is if we welcome and embrace immigrants," Schumer said.