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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 25 March 2022

Americans want Biden to be tougher on Russia: AP-NORC poll

From Front quarter are very confident anyway?” she added. “It
that the president has the just feels inevitable and, in
By HANNAH FINGERHUT ability to handle a crisis, the meantime, we’re just
Associated Press promote U.S. standing in watching all these people
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the world or effectively suffer.”
President Joe Biden meets manage the U.S. military, While support for a major
with key allies in Brussels though most have at least U.S. role has grown since
to coordinate a stronger some confidence. last month, from 26%
response to Russia’s Fifty-six percent of to 40%, Biden faces a
monthlong assault on Americans think Biden has tightrope walk to avoid war
Ukraine, a new poll shows not been tough enough and to curb the impact on
Americans have yet to rally on Russia, while 36% say the American people. The
around his leadership. his approach has been poll shows close to half of
Concern about Russia “about right.” Americans are “extremely”
has swelled and support Even among members of or “very” concerned about
for a major U.S. role in the his own party, Biden faces being drawn into war with
conflict strengthened in pressure to do more. The Russia.
the last month, but Biden’s poll shows Democrats are Biden has repeatedly
negative approval rating closely divided over the said that he will not send
has not budged, according A new AP-NORC poll finds more Republicans than Democrats president’s response, with American troops to Ukraine,
to the poll Thursday from say Biden’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not 43% saying he hasn’t been though some have been
The Associated Press- been tough enough, but even members of his own party are tough enough. Somewhat deployed to neighboring
NORC Center for Public closely divided over his approach. more, 53%, say it’s been NATO countries.
Affairs Research. Few are Associated Press “about right.” “I think that he’s doing
very confident that he The U.S., along with Over the next three days, “I understand he’s between the right thing and being
can handle a crisis, and NATO allies, have tried to the Biden administration a rock and a hard place,” cautious, but it’s really hard
a majority thinks he lacks isolate Russia and Russian aims to work with key said Rachel Collins, a when you’re watching and
toughness in dealing with President Vladimir Putin European allies on a united 41-year-old Democrat from reading about these stories
Russia. with sanctions, including strategy to aid Ukraine Chicago. “It just feels like day to day,” Collins said.
Only 43% of Americans freezing foreign assets of militarily, increase sanctions Putin’s not going to stop at “More aggressive at where
approve of Biden and Russia’s central bank and on Russia and wrestle with Ukraine.” we are means putting
a similar percentage cutting off its supply to the worsening humanitarian Collins, an elementary troops on the ground, and
approve of his handling of essential war materiel. But crisis, according to Jake school teacher, said she I don’t necessarily know if
the relationship with Russia. Russia has continued for Sullivan, Biden’s national feels like she’s watching that’s the answer either.”
Both measures are little a month to batter cities in security adviser. history unfolding yet again. “Then, you know, there’ll be
different from an AP-NORC Ukraine with air strikes and Biden does so on shaky “How many years are we people saying ‘why are we
poll conducted days artillery, despite a stalled ground with the American gonna watch this happen putting troops in there,’”
before the Feb. 24 invasion. ground invasion. public. Only about a and then have to step in she added.q

New rules aim to decide U.S. asylum

cases in months, not years

cases in months instead of they will start slowly and the world’s most popular
years. without additional resourc- destination for asylum-seek-
The rules empower asylum es. It will take effect 60 days ers since 2017, according
officers to grant or deny after the rule is published in to the U.N. refugee agen-
claims, an authority that the Federal Register, which cy, putting enormous strain
has been limited to immi- will occur next week. on immigration courts. The
gration judges for people The administration estimat- court backlog has soared
arriving at the border with ed last year that it would to nearly 1.7 million cases.
Mexico. need to hire 800 more em- “The current system for han-
A pair of migrant families from Brazil seeking asylum, walk Until now, asylum officers ployees for asylum officers dling asylum claims at our
through a gap in the border wall to reach the United States after have only done initial to handle about 75,000 borders has long needed
crossing from Mexico to Yuma, Ariz., June 10, 2021.
Associated Press screenings for asylum and cases a year. Without more repair,” said Homeland Se-
other forms of humanitar- money and new positions, curity Secretary Alejandro
By AMY TAXIN and Thursday unveiled new pro- ian relief for border arrivals. it is unclear how much im- Mayorkas, whose depart-
ELLIOT SPAGAT cedures to handle asylum The change could have pact the move will have at ment includes asylum offi-
Associated Press claims at the U.S. southern far-reaching impact, but first. cers at U.S. Citizenship and
The Biden administration on border, hoping to decide administration officials said The United States has been Immigration Services.q