Americans Hold the Federal Government Responsible for the Southern Border Crisis

An American majority holds the feds responsible for the Southern Border Crisis (87 percent) and believes Washington will not fix the issue (70 percent). As a result, 74 percent say states have the right to step In and fix the problem. 

WHY IT MATTERS – Under President Joe Biden, the federal government has generally opposed state efforts to enforce immigration laws at the border.  

BLAME THE FEDS – A new poll from Convention of States Action conducted by The Trafalgar Group revealed:   

  • 86.8 percent of voters believe the federal government is responsible for handling the increased costs from local and state government law enforcement resources being overwhelmed by the significant increase in illegal immigrants, asylum seekers needing assistance, and increased drug cartel activity at the southern border.  
  • 13.2 percent of voters believe the affected states are responsible for handling the increased costs from local and state government law enforcement resources being overwhelmed by the large increase in illegal immigrants, asylum seekers needing assistance, and increased drug cartel activity at the southern border. 

LACK OF CONFIDENCE – 68 percent of American voters are not confident the federal government can secure the southern border and end the humanitarian crisis. 

  • 53.4 percent say they are not confident at all. 
  • 14.6 percent say they are not very confident. 

Only 32 percent of voters are confident the federal government is focused on addressing the crisis at the southern border and has the plan to address the widespread drug and human trafficking occurring at the southern border. 

  • 14.2 percent say they are very confident. 
  • 17.8 percent say they are somewhat confident. 

STATES CAN TAKE ACTION – 74.3 percent of voters believe that if the federal government does not fulfill its duty to address the drug and human trafficking crisis at the southern border, then individual states have the right to act. 

  • 25.7 percent of voters do not believe states have the right to take action to protect their citizens and state borders. 

BOTTOM LINE – Just because Americans believe the federal government should be responsible for enforcing the border doesn’t mean they oppose state efforts to do what the federal government cannot.  

GO DEEPER –  

Trafalgar Group – National Survey – Border Issues, April 2023