Views by age, race and ethnicity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/PP_2024.2.15_US-Mexico-border_1-1.png?w=310\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nYoung adults are less likely than older people to say the situation at the border is a crisis. Only about a quarter (23%) of adults under 30 view it as a crisis, compared with 38% of those 30 to 49 and a 60% majority of adults ages 50 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About half of White adults (52%) say the influx of migrants is a crisis, higher than the shares of Hispanic, Asian (38% each) and Black (26%) adults who say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Views by partisanship, ideology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are far more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to say that the border situation is a crisis: 70% of Republicans describe it as a crisis, compared with 22% of Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Democrats, by contrast, view it as a major problem (44% vs. 20% of Republicans). And while a third of Democrats say the border situation is a minor problem or not a problem, just 9% of Republicans say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideological differences are wider within the GOP. A sizable majority of conservative Republicans (81%) say the large number of migrants at the border seeking to enter the U.S. represents a crisis. About half of moderate and liberal Republicans (53%) say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democrats\u2019 differences are more modest. However, 41% of liberal Democrats say the border situation is a minor problem or not a problem, compared with 27% of moderate Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How is the U.S. government doing in handling the situation at the border?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/PP_2024.2.15_US-Mexico-border_1-2.png?w=420\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs has been the case for the last few years<\/a>, Americans express very negative views of the government\u2019s handling of the border situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 80% say the government is doing a very or somewhat bad job of dealing with the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S \u2013 including 45% who say it\u2019s doing a very <\/em>bad job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Just 18% have a positive view of the government\u2019s handling of the situation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Both partisan coalitions are broadly dissatisfied with the government\u2019s handling of the border situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About nine-in-ten (89%) Republicans say the government is doing a bad job, including 71% who say it is doing very <\/em>badly. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Democrats also rate the government\u2019s performance negatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLarge majorities across age categories and all racial and ethnic groups say the government is doing a bad job dealing with the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wide age, partisan differences in attention to border situation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Republicans are much more interested than Democrats in news about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/PP_2024.2.15_US-Mexico-border_1-3.png?w=310\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- 43% of Republicans say they are following news about the border situation extremely or very closely, compared with 20% of Democrats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Conservative Republicans are especially interested in news about the border: 51% say they are following this news extremely or very closely while only 28% of moderate and liberal Republicans say the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Age differences<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Young adults are far less engaged with news about the U.S.-Mexico border than are older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just 12% of adults under 30 say they are following this news extremely or very closely; another 30% say they are following somewhat closely. A majority of young adults (57%) follow news about the border not too or not at all closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interest is higher among older age groups: 45% of adults ages 50 and older are following news about the border extremely or very closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does the migration surge have an impact on crime in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Republicans and Democrats have very different views about whether the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. has an impact on crime in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/PP_2024.2.15_US-Mexico-border_1-4.png?w=310\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nRepublicans and Republican leaners overwhelmingly say the large number of migrants trying to enter the country is leading to more crime in the country: 85% say this, including 90% of conservative Republicans and 77% of moderate and liberal Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By comparison, a far smaller share of Democrats \u2013 31% \u2013 say crime is increasing because of the migrant surge. Most Democrats (63%) say the number of migrants trying to enter the U.S. at the border doesn\u2019t have much effect on crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderate and conservative Democrats are more likely than liberals to say the number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. is leading to more crime (40% vs. 21%). Still, majorities in both groups say there isn\u2019t much relationship between the migrants and crime in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nYoung adults are less likely than older people to say the situation at the border is a crisis. Only about a quarter (23%) of adults under 30 view it as a crisis, compared with 38% of those 30 to 49 and a 60% majority of adults ages 50 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About half of White adults (52%) say the influx of migrants is a crisis, higher than the shares of Hispanic, Asian (38% each) and Black (26%) adults who say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Views by partisanship, ideology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are far more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to say that the border situation is a crisis: 70% of Republicans describe it as a crisis, compared with 22% of Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Democrats, by contrast, view it as a major problem (44% vs. 20% of Republicans). And while a third of Democrats say the border situation is a minor problem or not a problem, just 9% of Republicans say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideological differences are wider within the GOP. A sizable majority of conservative Republicans (81%) say the large number of migrants at the border seeking to enter the U.S. represents a crisis. About half of moderate and liberal Republicans (53%) say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democrats\u2019 differences are more modest. However, 41% of liberal Democrats say the border situation is a minor problem or not a problem, compared with 27% of moderate Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How is the U.S. government doing in handling the situation at the border?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs has been the case for the last few years<\/a>, Americans express very negative views of the government\u2019s handling of the border situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- 80% say the government is doing a very or somewhat bad job of dealing with the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S \u2013 including 45% who say it\u2019s doing a very <\/em>bad job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Just 18% have a positive view of the government\u2019s handling of the situation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Both partisan coalitions are broadly dissatisfied with the government\u2019s handling of the border situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About nine-in-ten (89%) Republicans say the government is doing a bad job, including 71% who say it is doing very <\/em>badly. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Democrats also rate the government\u2019s performance negatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLarge majorities across age categories and all racial and ethnic groups say the government is doing a bad job dealing with the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wide age, partisan differences in attention to border situation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Republicans are much more interested than Democrats in news about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- 43% of Republicans say they are following news about the border situation extremely or very closely, compared with 20% of Democrats.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Conservative Republicans are especially interested in news about the border: 51% say they are following this news extremely or very closely while only 28% of moderate and liberal Republicans say the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Age differences<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Young adults are far less engaged with news about the U.S.-Mexico border than are older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just 12% of adults under 30 say they are following this news extremely or very closely; another 30% say they are following somewhat closely. A majority of young adults (57%) follow news about the border not too or not at all closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interest is higher among older age groups: 45% of adults ages 50 and older are following news about the border extremely or very closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does the migration surge have an impact on crime in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Republicans and Democrats have very different views about whether the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. has an impact on crime in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nRepublicans and Republican leaners overwhelmingly say the large number of migrants trying to enter the country is leading to more crime in the country: 85% say this, including 90% of conservative Republicans and 77% of moderate and liberal Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By comparison, a far smaller share of Democrats \u2013 31% \u2013 say crime is increasing because of the migrant surge. Most Democrats (63%) say the number of migrants trying to enter the U.S. at the border doesn\u2019t have much effect on crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderate and conservative Democrats are more likely than liberals to say the number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. is leading to more crime (40% vs. 21%). Still, majorities in both groups say there isn\u2019t much relationship between the migrants and crime in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs has been the case for the last few years<\/a>, Americans express very negative views of the government\u2019s handling of the border situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both partisan coalitions are broadly dissatisfied with the government\u2019s handling of the border situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About nine-in-ten (89%) Republicans say the government is doing a bad job, including 71% who say it is doing very <\/em>badly. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Democrats also rate the government\u2019s performance negatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Large majorities across age categories and all racial and ethnic groups say the government is doing a bad job dealing with the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republicans are much more interested than Democrats in news about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Young adults are far less engaged with news about the U.S.-Mexico border than are older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just 12% of adults under 30 say they are following this news extremely or very closely; another 30% say they are following somewhat closely. A majority of young adults (57%) follow news about the border not too or not at all closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interest is higher among older age groups: 45% of adults ages 50 and older are following news about the border extremely or very closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republicans and Democrats have very different views about whether the large number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. has an impact on crime in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republicans and Republican leaners overwhelmingly say the large number of migrants trying to enter the country is leading to more crime in the country: 85% say this, including 90% of conservative Republicans and 77% of moderate and liberal Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By comparison, a far smaller share of Democrats \u2013 31% \u2013 say crime is increasing because of the migrant surge. Most Democrats (63%) say the number of migrants trying to enter the U.S. at the border doesn\u2019t have much effect on crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moderate and conservative Democrats are more likely than liberals to say the number of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. is leading to more crime (40% vs. 21%). Still, majorities in both groups say there isn\u2019t much relationship between the migrants and crime in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Wide age, partisan differences in attention to border situation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Age differences<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Does the migration surge have an impact on crime in the U.S.?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chart](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/PP_2024.2.15_US-Mexico-border_1-5.png?w=310\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n