Battleground Poll On Balanced Immigration Solutions

On behalf of the Immigration Hub, Global Strategy Group and BSP Research recently conducted public opinion research on the issue of immigration. This memo reflects the findings from a survey of 800 interviews with likely voters in the 2024 presidential battleground states (AZ, GA, MI, NV, NC, PA, WI) between April 8th and April 15th, 2024, and 600 interviews among Hispanic voters in key Congressional districts and battleground states between April 15th and April 20th, 2024. Key findings are as follows:

Battleground voters want to see a balanced approach to immigration. In keeping with previous research among battleground voters, the majority (66% overall, and 73% of Hispanic voters in key Congressional districts/states) want a balanced approach to immigration “that includes both border security and protects Dreamers, providing them and other eligible immigrants who have been here for many years a pathway to citizenship” over an enforcement-only approach “that only focuses on border security, deportations, and limiting the use of asylum” (34% overall, 27% Hispanic).

This preference is reflected in voters’ high levels of support for a slate of both security-oriented policies and paths to citizenship and legal status for undocumented immigrants. Consider the following:

• Voters remain strongly supportive of security-forward policies:
  • 91% support and just 6% oppose investing in increased screening capacity at the border to find fentanyl and other illegal drugs
  • 89% support and just 6% oppose improving technology and infrastructure at the border
• There are nearly equally high levels of support for paths to citizenship and legal status for many of the undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S.:
  • 82% support and just 14% oppose creating pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for many years and pass a background check and pay taxes
  • 76% support and just 20% oppose providing work permits to Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants who have lived here for many years and pass a background check
• Honing in specifically around the issue of family caregivers, voters deeply support them being able to stay here legally:
  • 74% support (84% Hispanic) and just 19% oppose expanding the ability for family caregivers to stay here legally, and together with their families, if they have lived in the U.S. for many years and they are caregivers to a spouse or child who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident