Voters on border security, RFK Jr., more: Full NewsNation poll

Voters on border security, RFK Jr., more: Full poll results

More voters trust Trump over Biden when it comes to the southern border
Americans have different views about the best immigration policies
Most of those surveyed think immigration has had a negative impact

Updated: May 3, 2024 / 12:50 PM CDT

EL PASO, TEXAS – MAY 11: Immigrants walk through razor wire surrounding a makeshift migrant camp after crossing the border from Mexico on May 11, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. The number of immigrants reaching the border has surged with the end of the U.S. government’s Covid-era Title 42 policy, which for the past three years has allowed for the quick expulsion of irregular migrants entering the country. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — A NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll of registered voters found that immigration is one of the top issues heading into the 2024 election, however, Americans differ on how the border should be handled.

The survey of 1,000 registered voters was conducted between April 16 and 17 via an online panel. Margins of error vary per question because the number of people who answered each question is different (learn more about why margins of error matter here).

See the full results of the poll below:

Question 1: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?(Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Strongly approve: 17.76%
Somewhat approve: 24.13%
Somewhat disapprove: 17.06%
Strongly disapprove: 41.05%

Question 2: Which of the following do you think is a bigger threat to the United States today? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Russia: 27.13%
China: 41.81%
Iran: 8.92%
North Korea: 5.77%
Afghanistan: 0.82%
Other: 4.65%
Not sure: 10.88%

Question 3: And how concerned are you about inflation? (Margin of Error: 3.0%)

Very concerned: 62.81%
Somewhat concerned: 29.94%
Not too concerned: 6.21%
Not at all concerned: 1.05%

Question 4: Which do you think is a bigger problem facing the United States today: Inflation, unemployment, crime or immigration? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Inflation: 49.06%
Unemployment: 6.77%
Immigration: 30.02%
Crime: 14.15%

Question 5: Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? (Margin of Error: 2.9%)

Strongly Favorable: 8.45%
Somewhat Favorable: 33.40%
Somewhat Unfavorable: 18.65%
Strongly Unfavorable: 19.06%
Not Sure: 20.45%

Question 6: With Joe Biden and Donald Trump now the presumptive nominees of their parties, are you more or less likely to vote for a 3rd party candidate in the 2024 presidential election? (Margin of Error: 3.0%)

Much more likely: 12.85%
Somewhat more likely: 14.13%
Neither more nor less likely: 36.33%
Somewhat less likely: 8.55%
Much less likely: 28.14%

Question 7: Which of the following best describes how you view Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s political views? (Margin of Error: 2.9%)

Very conservative: 8.19%
Somewhat conservative: 15.34%
Moderate: 30.23%
Somewhat liberal: 15.51%
Very liberal: 10.03%
Not sure: 20.70%

Question 8: How concerned would you be about Joe Biden’s age or cognitive health affecting his ability to serve another term as President effectively? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Very concerned: 51.09%
Somewhat concerned: 22.75%
Not too concerned: 15.52%
Not at all concerned: 10.64%

Question 9: How concerned would you be about Donald Trump’s age or cognitive health affecting his ability to serve another term as President effectively? (Margin of Error: 3.0%)

Very concerned: 36.45%
Somewhat concerned: 21.83%
Not too concerned: 18.95%
Not at all concerned: 22.78%

Question 10: Which of the following is the best way to refer to foreigners having entered or living in the US without proper authorization? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Illegal immigrant: 43.05%
Illegal alien: 10.17%
Undocumented immigrant: 21.36%
Undocumented worker: 1.94%
Undocumented people/person: 10.41%
Immigrant: 6.72%
Something else: 1.34%
Not sure: 5.00%

Question 11: Which of the following policy proposals do you think would most help to deter illegal immigration to the U.S. if it were put in place? (Margin of Error: 2.8%)

Shutting down the US southern border: 29.62%
Building a wall along the U.S. southern border: 17.74%
Prioritizing funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection over other government programs: 15.55%
Providing foreign aid to southern nations: 5.84%
Economic sanctions on nations with less restrictive border policies: 4.66%
Greater investment in immigration courts: 3.95%
Expanding green card and visa availability: 16.20%
None of these: 6.44%

Question 12: Which of the following candidates would you say is best suited to handle issues around the US Southern border? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Donald Trump: 45.87%
Joe Biden: 26.29%
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: 7.30%
Someone else: 7.73%
Not sure: 12.81%

Question 13: Which statement aligns closest to your concerns about people immigrating to the United States? (Margin of Error: 2.7%)

I do not have any concerns about people immigrating to the United States: 25.69%
Immigration to the United States results in less jobs being available to citizens: 9.09%
Immigration to the United States results in increased rates of crime: 19.14%
Immigration to the United States results in increased numbers of people reliant on government welfare: 26.57%
Immigration to the United States results in overcrowding: 11.48%
Something else: 8.03%

Question 14: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: immigration has had a negative impact on the community in which I live. (Margin of Error: 2.8%)

Strongly agree: 21.02%
Somewhat agree: 26.32%
Somewhat disagree: 28.93%
Strongly disagree: 23.74%

Question 15: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: immigration has had a negative impact on the country as a whole. (Margin of Error: 3.0%)

Strongly agree: 36.86%
Somewhat agree: 24.00%
Somewhat disagree: 22.70%
Strongly disagree: 16.44%

Question 16: How concerned are you about immigrants voting illegally in US elections? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Very concerned: 40.85%
Somewhat concerned: 22.21%
Not too concerned: 15.99%
Not at all concerned: 20.94%

Question 17: Overall, would you say that the country is on the right track or on the wrong track? (Margin of Error: 2.9%)

Right track: 21.08%
Wrong track: 67.75%
Not sure: 11.16%

Question 18: Overall, would you say you are better or worse off financially than you were about a year ago? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

Better off: 21.10%
Worse off: 46.86%
Neither better nor worse off: 32.04%

Question 19: Thinking about other topics, if the election for the U.S. Congress in your district was held today, which of the following candidates would you most likely vote for? (Margin of Error: 3.1%)

The Republican candidate: 43.77%
The Democratic candidate: 41.58%
A third party candidate: 10.94%
Would not vote: 3.71%

Question 20: What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed? If you’re currently enrolled in school, please indicate the highest degree you have received. (Margin of Error: 2.9%)

Post-graduate degree: 16.22%
Bachelor’s degree: 33.08%
Some college or associate’s degree: 32.80%
High school diploma or less: 17.90%

Question 21: Which of the following would you say most accurately describes your political ideology? (Margin of Error: 3.0%)