Opening a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements (including a criminal record check) is the proposal that received the most social support in a survey carried out by the news chain NBC News on what should be the priorities of the Congress, at a time when a record number of asylum seekers arrive at the border and the Republican Party pushes for strong-arm measures.
80% of those surveyed were in favor of this measure, and only 18% opposed it, in a survey carried out between January 20 and 24 of a thousand people, who were distributed almost equally among Democratic voters Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump.
In addition,
72%
opted for increasing funds for border security to deal with immigration, compared to 25% who opposed Congress adapting this measure.
[Republicans push measures against immigrants in the House of Representatives]
Only two other issues (tightening policies toward China and passing new abortion restrictions) achieved a similar (albeit lower) level of consensus (for China, against abortion) on what the priorities should be. Congress after the midterm elections, in which Democrats strengthened their lead in the Senate but lost control of the now-Republican House of Representatives.
The revocation of the right to abortion impacts many women, but some are more affected than others
Jan 30, 202301:23
71% of those surveyed spoke out against new restrictions on the
right to abortion
, which was no longer guaranteed at the federal level with the Supreme Court ruling that annulled Roe v Wade.
[Why is it so serious that there is no longer federal access to abortion? More women commit suicide; maternal and infant mortality rises]
The laws that restrict abortion in some states after that court ruling disproportionately affect minority women, such as Latinas, and low-income people.
“Abortion bans also have repercussions for the rest of reproductive health: there is no sex education in schools, no low-cost or free contraceptives on hand, and the full range of reproductive health services not accessible either,” Alejandra Soto, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, told Telemundo News.
According to a study, those who live in the most prohibitive states are three times more likely to die during pregnancy or giving birth.
In these territories the incidence of pregnant adolescents is double.
75% of those surveyed agreed to take
tougher economic and military measures with China
, and 64% favored action in the face of the climate crisis.
On the other hand, only 31% supported cuts to the
Defense
budget .
On providing more funds and weapons to
Ukraine
, 49% think Congress should do it, versus 47% who think it shouldn't.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
The survey underscores, according to experts told NBC News, how little public opinion has changed since the November elections, and how dissatisfied citizens remain with the country's progress, barely two years before the 2024 presidential elections.
“Elections are supposed to act as an opportunity to refresh and reset, and that didn't happen,” said Democrat Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who conducted this poll with Republican Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies.
Half of citizens still disapprove of
the
job President Joe Biden is doing, giving him low marks on his ability to unite the country, as well as having the physical and mental health necessary to be president, even after a series of recent political and legislative victories.
Biden's image has essentially not changed since November, according to the survey.
Social discontent also persists: 71% believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction (72% said this in November), and 64% say their family income falls short of living costs. (63% said this in September 2022).
The impact of secret documents
The survey also addressed one of the main issues under debate in recent weeks: the discovery of documents classified as secret in the private residences of presidents.
An equal number of citizens (67%) say they are just as concerned about the files found at Biden's residence and former office as they are about those found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, despite being two very different cases.
Biden and his lawyers have argued that they turned over these documents, from his time as Barack Obama's vice president, as soon as they were found and cooperated with investigators, while Trump failed to turn over all the documents and criticized investigators.
Furthermore, most respondents believe that the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives will be too inflexible in dealing with Biden and spend too much time investigating the president instead of focusing on other priorities.
The Department of Justice analyzes the potential danger of the documents of Trump and Biden
Jan 30, 202300:24
Most Democrats (52%) say they are concerned about Biden's classified documents, while most Republicans (53%) are concerned about Trump's.
"None of the presidents get approval from their supporters," said McInturff, the Republican pollster.
Biden's good and bad grades
In the poll, Biden gets his highest marks for being calm and personable (45% support him there) and for having enough knowledge and experience for the presidency (42%).
His lowest marks are on whether he is honest and trustworthy (34%), has the ability to handle a crisis (32%), is competent and effective as a president (31%), has the necessary mental and physical health to be president (28%) and can unite the country (23%).
Many of these scores have dropped significantly since Biden first took office, according to the survey.
The survey was conducted January 20-24 among 1,000 adults (823 contacted by cell phone) and has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points. The margin of error for the 810 registered voters surveyed is plus or minus 3.4 points.
