In a recent poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly half of U.S. adults indicated that immigration should be a top government focus in 2025. This marks a significant increase from just one-third who prioritized immigration a year earlier. This shift comes as the nation anticipates a new Republican administration under President-elect Donald Trump, who has committed to mass deportations and curbing birthright citizenship.

The growing concern for immigration transcends party lines, with strong bipartisan acknowledgment. Notably, about 70% of Republicans identified immigration or issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border as crucial, reflecting a substantial increase from 45% in the past two years. This reinforces Trump's return to the White House as a pivotal moment for a base rallied around his signature immigration reforms, contrasting sharply with the more lenient policies under Democratic President Joe Biden.

Despite the surge in immigration as a priority, economic issues remain paramount for the majority of Americans. Approximately 75% of respondents stressed that the government should focus on economic concerns, mirroring trends from previous years. Specific worries included inflation, general economic conditions, unemployment, and taxes. About one-third of the survey participants view foreign policy as a significant concern as well, with health care issues following closely behind.

Many Republicans see immigration as pivotal in Trump's campaign, which often involved negative narratives surrounding immigrants, although studies have debunked any correlation between immigration and crime. Nevertheless, Trump's immigration-related policies and potential reforms face anticipated legal obstacles as he seeks to restrict the influx of immigrants.

Furthermore, among Republican respondents, there is a pronounced call for a tighter focus on immigration, with about 70% expressing support for prioritizing border issues. In comparison, Democratic concerns seem more fragmented; while economic issues dominate their priorities, many Democrats—up from only 20% last year—are also showing increased interest in immigration reform. However, they tend not to agree with Trump's hardline stance, advocating instead for improved border control and pathways to citizenship.

Additionally, record-high illegal border crossings in 2023 stoked fears, though numbers dropped in 2024 following Biden’s enforcement on asylum claims. Trump's critique of those measures underscores his belief that they were insufficient.

Interestingly, the younger voter demographic appears less preoccupied with immigration, focusing more on economic stability. Specifically, around 40% of Americans under 30 emphasize inflation as a pressing issue, while only one-third highlight immigration concerns, as opposed to 60% of older adults prioritizing the latter.

This generational divide was observable in AP VoteCast data, revealing that younger voters were more influenced by economic issues than by immigration in the recent elections.

As the U.S. gears up for the new year, the AP-NORC poll—conducted from December 5-9, 2024—reflects shifting priorities among Americans, indicating a complex interplay between immigration and economic concerns. With a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, the findings underscore the urgency for both parties to address these salient issues.

For further insights, read the full analysis on HuffPost or explore coverage on Los Angeles Times.