538: Republicans Shifting Even More Right on Immigration

Over at Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight blog, Professor Michael Tesler (Poli Sci, UC Irvine) is writing about how Republicans are currently shifting even further right on immigration. Here’s a sneak peek:

It turns out that Biden’s immigration policy is the #1 issue that Republicans are pissed about at the moment. For contrast, only 61% of Republicans “strongly disapprove” of Biden on his Covid-19 response.

That’s a particularly interesting contrast given the connection between the two issues — immigration and coronavirus. As Professor Tesler points out in his piece, Republicans like Florida’s DeSantis argue that the nation’s coronavirus cases are linked to “COVID-infected migrants” who “pour over our southern border by the hundreds of thousands.” 

Professor Tesler also points out a 12 point uptick in Republican support for the deportation of unauthorized migrants. (Numbers are up among independents as well.)

That pairs with data suggesting a whopping 18-point increase Republican opposition to creating a path to citizenship for undocumented migrants.

Thanksgiving is going to be a blast this year.

-KitJ