Latinos to Washington: Fix the Border Now

Enough is enough; it’s time to take back control of our border. That’s the resounding message from Latinos to Washington politicians, according to our latest LIBRE Institute poll, a sister organization of The LIBRE Initiative specializing in research and polling.  

The chaos at our southern border has turned immigration into a critical issue for Hispanics nationwide. The poll reveals that 20% of Hispanics think illegal immigration and border control to be among the most important issues for them, making it the third most important topic—surpassed only by inflation and the economy. 

Compared to last year, the salience of illegal immigration and border control has surged, jumping from the eighth most important issue to third place. The survey shows that Latinos, like all Americans, are tired of the ongoing disorder at our border, which they perceive as being neglected by the Biden-Harris administration. 

Here are the key insights we found: 

Concerns About the Border Transcend Party and Age 

Controlling the southern border is no longer just a rallying cry for the most conservative Latinos; it enjoys widespread support across all political ideologies among Hispanics.  

Our poll clearly shows that a vast majority of Latinos are demanding that Washington restore order at the border: 

• A significant 64% of Latino independents think Washington should control the southern border. 

• Surprisingly, 67% of Lean Democrats and 63% of base Democrats agree that the government should restore order at the border. 

• This marks a significant shift from last year when only 47% of Lean Democrats and 55% of base Democrats wanted more border security. 

The desire to regain control of the border cuts across ideologies, age, gender, education, and region: 

• A notable 66% of young Latinos (ages 18-34) believe the border should be under control, with support for increased border security not falling below 73% among older age groups. 

• Both men and women, regardless of college education, overwhelmingly support securing the border. 

• Latinos in key states also share broad support for border security: 79% in Florida, 71% in Texas, and 75% in California believe Washington should restore order at the border. 

Latinos’ Preferred Border Policies: Key Insights 

Latinos agree that the border is a mess that needs to be addressed. However, there is still not a widespread consensus on how the government should solve it. 

When asked about the top three actions Washington should take to secure America’s border, Latinos responded: 

• Creating regional asylum process centers outside the United States is the most popular policy solution, with 61% in favor. 

• 38% of Hispanics support bringing back the Remain in Mexico program. 

• Providing extra funding to Border Patrol agents is also supported by 38% of Latinos. 

There’s still a lot of work to do to build a policy consensus in the Latino community.  

The Immigration System is Broken, Latinos say 

It doesn’t take a policy genius to see that the immigration system is failing America, and our latest poll shows that a vast majority of Hispanics agree. Our polling highlights: 

• An overwhelming 86% of Latinos believe our legal immigration system is broken. 

• 72% of Hispanics think the system makes it too hard for immigrants to come to America legally. 

• 73% believe America must do more to incentivize highly skilled and highly educated immigrants to come to the country. 

The message from Latinos is clear: it is time for decisive action to restore order at our borders and fix our broken immigration system. Washington must listen to the voices of Hispanic communities across the nation and implement policies that not only secure our borders but also create a fair and efficient legal immigration process. The future of our nation depends on it.