What immigration policy do Americans want?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
The following Presidents first came to office in the following years: George W. Bush (R), 2001; Barack H. Obama (D), 2009; Donald J. Trump (R), 2017 and Joseph R. Biden (D), 2021. You can see the number of migrant encounters at the Southern border in the visual below*. Some notable levels of migrant encounters a the Southern border include: the year 2001 with (at the time, a record high level of) 1,643,679 encounters; the year 2017 with a low of 303,916 encounters; and the year 2021 with an all time high level of 1659,206 encounters. As of 2023, during the Biden administration, what percent of Americans wanted immigration to decrease?
As the number of migrant encounters decreased between 2001 and 2017 what happened to the percentage of Americans who wanted immigration to increase?
During the Biden administration, as the numbers of migrant encounters between 2021 and the present skyrocketed what happened to the percentage of Americans who wanted immigration to decrease?
The Trump Administration had a very strong immigration policy aimed at reducing immigration. During the Trump administration (2017-2021) what happened to American public opinion about immigration?
Relative to the Trump Administration, starting in 2021 the Biden Administration had a very welcoming policy towards immigrants, what happened to the level of immigrants during the Biden administration?
Based on the visuals above and below* taking special note of immigration levels during the Trump and Biden administrations, how much do you think public policy impacts actual levels of immigration?
How much do you think actual levels of immigration impacts public opinion?
American public opinion on immigration has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Does a republican (small r) system of government where politicians represent the will of the people lead to consistent governmental policy?
How much do you think immigration will impact the 2024 election?
Based on the visual below, if you were an advisor to President Biden, what is one policy you would recommend that Biden take to try to make his policy more aligned with public opinion?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Learn More
Check out the interactive graphics about immigration in the U.S.
Act on your Learning
Contact President Biden or holler at him on Twitter @POTUS and tell him what he should do about immigration policy.
Get Creative
Draw/create a chart which includes the number of migrant encounters at the Southern border, American opinion about immigration, and the name of the president by year.