Number of Americans wanting reduced immigration skyrockets, most since 2001: poll

A majority of Americans want lower levels of immigration overall, according to a new poll ahead of an election in which immigration and the crisis at the southern border are going to be top issues for voters.

Fifty-five percent of voters want to see immigration to the U.S. decrease, according to a recent Gallup poll. That is up dramatically from 41% last year, and the first time since 2005 a majority of Americans want less immigration. It’s also the highest since the 58% recorded in 2001.

The percentage of Americans who want more immigration is at 16%. It’s a sharp change from 2020 and 2021, when 34% wanted more immigration and only about 30% wanted less.

By party affiliation, 88% of Republicans, 50% of independents and 28% of Democrats want less immigration.

Multiple polls, including Gallup, have consistently shown the border crisis is a top issue for voters ahead of the November election.

For solutions to the crisis, 67% want Border Patrol agents, 53% want border wall expansion, 47% want deportation of all illegal immigrants and 70% want to give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship if they meet "certain requirements over time," according to the poll