A dramatic shift in American politics emerged as Trump's hardline immigration policies attracted traditionally Democratic voters ('The Democrats'), frustrated with the Biden administration's handling of the border crisis. In fact, support for reducing immigration has nearly doubled, from 28% in 2020 to 55% in August 2024.
Trump's victory came after he painted immigration as an existential threat, describing it as an "invasion" that would require a "bloodbath" to resolve through mass deportations. His message resonated far beyond his base: according to a recent New York Times poll, 57% of voters support deporting undocumented immigrants – including, surprisingly, 30% of Democrats and 58% of independents.
The border wall, once a controversial proposal, has gained mainstream support. Half of all American voters, including 20% of Democrats, now back its construction – a significant jump from the 40% support it had in 2016 and 2020.
So what changed?
Under Biden's presidency, a perfect storm of climate change, rising violence, and COVID-19's economic devastation accelerated migration to levels not seen since World War II. Coupled with America's historically low unemployment rate, this created unprecedented pressure at the southern border.
The impact is visible in unexpected places. Take Oregon, where one lifelong Democratic voter in her fifties told the New York Times, "I can't stand Donald Trump, but I voted for him." She had never voted Republican before but felt compelled by what she saw as a crisis: "We're being overwhelmed by immigrants who are being prioritized over citizens' needs."
Her concerns are personal. She points to her 15-year-old son's public school, where she says education quality has declined due to the large non-English-speaking student population. In Oregon, undocumented immigrants qualify for medical care based on their low income and receive humanitarian aid, while she sees struggling American citizens unable to access similar support.
Voters across the political spectrum blamed the Biden administration for failing to acknowledge the chaos at the border or take aggressive steps to address it. This perceived inaction created an opening that Trump successfully exploited, turning immigration from a partisan issue into one that crossed traditional political lines.
Channel 14 contributed to this article.
