Voters across both party lines appear to be in agreement with President Donald Trump’s immigration priorities, a new Harvard-Harris Poll finds.
The poll, weighted to be broadly representative of the U.S. population, found that 65% of voters overall agreed with Trump’s position that any bill codifying Obama-era protections for illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children should be accompanied by funding for a wall, ending chain migration, and ending the diversity visa lottery program.
The individual elements of each of Trump’s demands remain broadly popular as well. On the most controversial subject of the border wall, 53 percent of respondents said they supported “building a combination of physical and electronic barriers across the US-Mexico border,” and 61 percent said current security along the US-Mexico border is inadequate.
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79 percent of respondents said they believed “immigration priority for those coming to the U.S. should be based on a person’s ability to contribute to America as measured by their education and skills or based on a person having relatives in the US.” The statement is broadly representative of Trump’s bid to end chain migration via family ties and prioritize immigration policy that favors high skilled individuals.
The diversity visa lottery program saw a similar 68 percent disapproval by voters.
Negotiations between the White House and Capitol Hill are likely to escalate further as a new February 9 deadline approaches. Senate Democrats ended a three day government shutdown Monday largely fueled by a current impasse over DACA and funding for a border wall, which Democratic lawmakers have insisted is a waste of money.
Trump however has made clear funding for the wall is an absolute must in any deal along with his two other immigration priorities.