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Massachusetts Residents Rank Immigration as Top Issue, Poll Reveals

A recent poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group has revealed that Massachusetts residents rank immigration and migrants as the most critical issue facing the state. Amidst an ongoing border crisis across the country, this critical piece of news emphasizes the growing concerns of citizens and the urgent need for action.

Surveying 1,002 Massachusetts residents in an open-ended query, 21% considered immigration and migrants as their primary concern, with housing trailing behind at 15%. Furthermore, taxes, government spending, and welfare captured the attention of 12% of respondents, tying with inflation and living costs. In total, 67% of participants believed the situation to be a major problem (39%) or a crisis (28%). Notably, 21% of Democrats deemed it a crisis and 40% viewed it as a major problem, exposing the bipartisan nature of the issue.

This alarming trend of immigration becoming a top priority has manifested itself in other blue states like Colorado as well, where 14% of probable voters listed it as their predominant concern. Homelessness ranked second with 12%. This mirrors a nationwide increase in migration fears, with 36% of voters nationwide naming immigration as the utmost pressing issue, overtaking inflation in second place.

President Joe Biden’s open-border stance has resulted in deteriorating approval ratings specific to immigration, as per Harvard-Harris poll findings. The statistics speak for themselves: under Biden’s administration, there have been approximately 9 million encounters and an estimated 1.7 million “gotaways” on the southern border. Comparatively, this number drastically exceeds the 415,000 reported gotaways during President Donald Trump’s tenure in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Coinciding with this unprecedented escalation in the migration crisis, immigration first entered Massachusetts’ top ten issues of concern in August 2023, where 10% of poll respondents placed it fourth. Given this rapidly growing apprehension in the Bay State and beyond, it has become exceedingly important for the federal government to acknowledge and address the issue in a swift, efficient manner.

In conclusion, the MassINC Polling Group has uncovered a pressing and paramount issue within the minds of Massachusetts residents. As immigration and migrants dominate the list of concerns, it is evident that the current state of affairs on our southern border requires immediate, bipartisan reform. The polls conducted in Massachusetts and other states accentuate the need for the federal government to prioritize fair and secure immigration policies. As the nation continues to grapple with this crisis, the call for action grows louder and more urgent.