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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 5 January 2019
AP-NORC Poll: Immigration among the top concerns in 2019

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI immigration-related issues direction and Trump's per- unchanged from one year when government couldn't
and HANNAH FINGERHUT as top priorities for the gov- formance. ago. A traditionally Demo- get in the way," he said.
Associated Press ernment, other polls show "People are busy," Hoyt cratic issue, health care With Democrats assuming
As much of the U.S. govern- that their opinions on the said. "I can tell the econ- is named by Democrats control of the House of Rep-
ment remains shut down resentatives, the inevitable
over President Donald gridlock could preserve the
Trump's insistence on fund- economic expansion, Parks
ing for his border wall, near- argued.
ly half of Americans identify Republicans are more likely
immigration as a top issue than Democrats to be op-
for the government to work timistic, but feelings about
on this year. the country are mixed
An Associated Press-NORC even within the GOP. Six
Center for Public Affairs in 10 Americans are dissat-
Research poll conducted isfied with the way things
shortly before the shutdown are going in the country as
began finds that both Re- a whole, including 79 per-
publicans and Democrats cent of Democrats and 42
are far more likely to in- percent of Republicans.
clude immigration in their Among Republicans, that's
list of top issues facing the a slight increase from 33
country this year com- percent who were dissat-
pared with a year ago. isfied with the state of the
Overall, 49 percent men- country in October. Still, Re-
tioned immigration in an publicans are far more like-
open-ended question as ly than Democrats today
one of the top five prob- to say they're satisfied with
lems they hoped the gov- the way things are going in
ernment addresses in 2019. the country, 39 percent to
By contrast, 27 percent 9 percent.
mentioned immigration in In this Jan. 2, 2019, photo, a border patrol office inside his vehicle guards the border fence at the The unhappiness on both
December 2017. U.S. side of San Diego, Calif., as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. sides of the aisle is palpable
Partisan divides on the best Associated Press to John Rossetti, a 47-year-
solutions remain deep. Re- old code enforcement of-
publicans continue to be ficer in Youngstown, Ohio.
more likely to cite immi- issue diverge dramatically. omy from the number of more than Republicans (56 "There's a really different,
gration as a top issue than For example, a December semis on the highway, and percent versus 43 percent). negative environment,"
Democrats, an indication poll by CNN found that 78 it's loaded." There was a sharp rise in Rossetti said. "Everywhere
of the GOP's greater inten- percent of Republicans Chris Butino, 31, is a Dem- environmental and cli- you go, it's there — just
sity on the issue. But it's an and just 8 percent of Dem- ocrat and a firefighter in mate issues after a year of a very negative atmo-
increasingly important issue ocrats supported building a Cortland, New York, who's wildfires and hurricanes, a sphere."
to members of both parties. border wall. been disappointed by change that is largely driv- Rossetti describes himself as
The poll found that 65 per- And with their party still in Trump's rhetoric and ac- en by Democrats. Overall, a moderate to conserva-
cent of Republicans say control of the White House tions on immigration, es- about a quarter of Ameri- tive Democrat who didn't
immigration is one of the and the Senate, Republi- pecially against refugees. cans mention the environ- support Trump in 2016 but
top five problems facing cans are more optimistic Trump has sharply curtailed ment as a top issue. About was rooting for him to suc-
the country, up from 42 about the government the number of refugees ac- 4 in 10 Democrats include ceed. Now he's disillusioned
percent in 2017. Among making progress on immi- cepted by the U.S. and tak- the environment as a pri- and pessimistic about the
Democrats, 37 percent cite gration this year. Among en steps to limit who can ority, compared with just future, and he's not alone.
immigration as a top issue, those who prioritize immi- claim asylum as more mi- 8 percent of Republicans. Americans are more likely
compared with just 2 in 10 gration, Republicans are grants from Central Ameri- The share of Democrats to think things in the coun-
a year ago. more than three times as ca try to do so at the Mexi- naming the environment try will get worse in the next
Roughly two-thirds of those likely as Democrats to ex- can border. has grown 11 percentage year than that they will get
who named immigration as press some confidence that "We're America — we're points since a year ago. better, 42 percent to 32
a top priority express little the government will make the wealthiest nation in the The poll was conducted percent.
confidence in the govern- progress. That includes Da- world in terms of resources, in December before the More Americans do think
ment to make progress vid Hoyt, a 77-year-old re- and saying we're not going stock market gyrations and 2019 will be a better year for
this year, including a third tired school superintendent to take in the poor, hud- government shutdown. Gil them personally than think
who say they are "not at and registered Republican dled masses," Butino said. Parks, a retired CPA who's it will get worse, 37 percent
all" confident. About a third in eastern Iowa. "We can maintain our own become a rancher in Texas, to 18 percent, but another
say they are at least mod- "We waste too many re- safety, but we can also be is fine with the shutdown. 45 percent say there won't
erately confident in the sources with illegal aliens," generous." "It's only 25 percent of the be much difference.
government to make prog- Hoyt said. "If people want The economy remains a top government," he said. Rossetti has only had two
ress on immigration. This fol- to come here, let's have priority for Americans, with Parks, a 59-year-old Re- small raises in the past
lows a year of intermittent them do it legally. I don't 62 percent citing related is- publican, is optimistic the 12 years he's worked for
deadlocked negotiations understand why people sues, including mentions of country could be in for a Youngstown, yet his health
and standoffs between don't understand the word jobs, unemployment, taxes long stretch of economic insurance premiums keep
Trump and Democrats in 'illegal.'" and trade. growth, in part because of rising.
Congress. Hoyt says he's also focused Nearly half of Americans the partisan acrimony fuel- "I don't think I'm doing bet-
Although both Democrats on the economy, and its also identify health care ing the shutdown. ter," Rossetti said. "I feel like
and Republicans are in- healthy state is why he's as one of the top five is- "If you look back in histo- I'm doing what I need to do
creasingly likely to name satisfied with the country's sues facing the country, ry, the economy did best to stay afloat."q