Refugee Resettlement Support Among Voters by Law Student Sophia Elkihel

Refugee Resettlement Support Among Voters by Sophia Elkihel, Law Student, UC Davis School of Law 

Sabrina Jacobs with Data for Progress reports on a poll by Data for Progress, the Refugee Advocacy Lab, and Refugees International that finds the majority of all voters believe that migrants should be allowed to seek asylum at the southern border of the United States. It is worth noting that only 34% of Republicans support this rule. Encouragingly, the support for asylum at the southern border increases among the average voter if they know someone who is a refugee. This poll took place in late May 2023, shortly after Title 42 expired and was replaced by a new rule limiting asylum applications.

U,S, District Judge Jon Tigar vacated the final rule pending a 14 day stay.  The Biden administration promptly appealed to the Ninth Circuit. While the outcome of the legal proceedings remains to be seen, it is evident that voters believe that asylum seekers should be able to present themselves at the southern border.

KJ