Poll: 80 percent say illegal immigration at southern border is crisis or serious problem

Eight out of 10 Americans say that the situation at the U.S. border with Mexico is at least a serious problem that needs to be addressed, a surge from the beginning of the year, according to a new poll.

A Washington Post–ABC News poll released Tuesday found that 45 percent of Americans say that the number of illegal border crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border is “a serious problem,” while a smaller percentage, 35 percent, say that it has become a “crisis.”

{mosads}Just 18 percent of Americans say that the number of border crossings has not caused a serious problem, according to the survey.

If Americans agree that there is a serious problem on the border, however, the country is divided on how to address it.

Overall, 64 percent they were opposed to President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency in order to fund construction of a border wall, and majorities in all age, racial and gender demographics said they did not support the plan.

Thirty-nine percent of Americans support the president’s overall stance on immigration, a slight increase from 2017 when 35 percent supported him on the issue. Trump has more support from within the Republican Party, where 74 percent back his plan.

The Washington Post–ABC News poll surveyed 1,001 American adults from April 22 to 25. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.