(AP) More Americans disapprove than approve of how President Joe Biden is handling waves of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, and approval of his efforts on larger immigration policy falls short of other top issues — suggesting it could be a weak point for the new administration.
A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows 4 in 10 Americans disapprove of how the Biden administration is handling crisis. Less than a quarter approve of Biden’s efforts, and about a third don’t have an opinion either way.
Biden has tried to seize political momentum on the issue by promising a more humane and orderly system, but others feel it’s making the problem worse.
Matthew Behrs, a Trump supporter in Wisconsin, thinks Biden’s willingness to help asylum seekers goes against safety measures the federal government put in place for the coronavirus pandemic.
“They have to social distance, wear masks, shut down small businesses. But yet then we’re OK, allowing an influx of people from other countries that aren’t vaccinated that don’t have any of the things that we’re told to do. And it’s OK,” Behrs said. “So my concern is, is that President Biden has allowed the world to feel it’s OK to just come on in.”
Navien Vaswani, a first-generation Indian American who voted for Biden, wants to see the commander in chief go beyond discussing the issue and work toward a bipartisan solution.
“I know it is a top priority for him at this stage, and that is why he has designated as vice president to be in charge of the situation,” Vaswani said. “Having said that, they don’t know what to do. There are not set laws. There are no set framework… This is why I disapprove.”
During his first day in office, Biden signed nearly a dozen executive orders to open up the southern border, causing a massive influx of migrants to flood the southern border.
The same AP-NORC survey also finds Americans split on the best course of action. 6 in 10 view the safe treatment of young migrants at the border as a high priority.
“The kids are already on our side of the border, according to the American and human spirit, we have to take care of them. We have to provide for them and make sure that they get the American value of life,” said Vaswani.
More than half, including Behrs, say increasing border security should be Biden’s main focus moving forward.
“It’s so easy to get across the border illegally and come into this country carrying whether it be drugs, people, weapons,” Behrs said. “The former Trump administration took it as a priority, which is one of my priorities is the security of this nation. And I just don’t see that same urgency and security from the current administration. And that’s troubling.”
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