Polling data shows Republican primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire listed immigration as their top issue.
Overall, 4 out of 10 Republicans responded that immigration ranked as the most important issue facing the country. The economy and jobs were listed second behind immigration, according to a voter analysis by Fox News.
Three-quarters of GOP Iowans said immigrants do more to hurt the country than help. In New Hampshire, 7 in 10 Republicans responded the same. A majority of voters in both states said they want a border wall — a previous campaign promise of former President Donald Trump.
The polling comes as Fox News reports there were more than 300,000 unlawful migrant encounters at the border in December, which marks a record total. The official total for December has yet to be released by the Biden administration.
The Supreme Court ruled this month that Texas must remove razor wire at the border in Eagle Pass. The Biden administration claimed the razor wire prevented federal agents from accessing the area to respond with life-saving assistance involving migrants in distress. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to fight the decision, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“The destruction of Texas’s border barriers will not help enforce the law or keep American citizens safe. This fight is not over, and I look forward to defending our state’s sovereignty,” Paxton said.
“Texas’ razor wire is an effective deterrent to the illegal crossings Biden encourages,” Abbott said. “I will continue to defend Texas’ constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent the Biden Admin from destroying our property.”