President Joe Biden's approval rating has declined as Americans are becoming increasingly worried about the economy and immigration, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Wednesday. The survey showed that only 38% of respondents currently approve of Biden's performance as president, down from 40% in December. This decline reflects a trend of Biden's approval rating being below 50% since August of last year, causing concern among Democrats as he gears up for his expected reelection campaign against former President Donald Trump in November.
The main concern among Americans, according to the survey, is immigration, with 17% of respondents listing it as the most pressing issue facing the country today. This is a significant increase from only 11% in December. The economy remains the top concern overall, with 22% of respondents citing it as the biggest issue. However, immigration has surpassed the economy as the top concern among Republicans, with 36% listing it as their main worry compared to 29% for the economy.
Biden's administration has been facing criticism for its handling of the surge of asylum seekers on the U.S.-Mexico border, with Republicans in Congress threatening to derail a bipartisan effort to address the issue. They have also initiated an attempt to impeach Biden's top border official, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. In December, U.S. border authorities struggled to process a record-high number of migrants, which has only added to the pressure faced by the Biden administration.
NBC: "More migrants have crossed the border illegally last year than EVER before ... You yourself have said that more than 85% caught crossing the border illegally are being released into the US ... Why do you deserve to keep your job!?"
MAYORKAS: It's not my fault pic.twitter.com/OlGYyLVrsv
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 11, 2024
The economy has been another major concern for Americans since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With rising inflation and other financial challenges, nearly two-thirds of survey respondents, including 47% of Democrats, believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. This sentiment could pose a threat to Biden's presidency as he tries to navigate his agenda and campaign for reelection.
Despite these challenges, the Biden administration has remained focused on addressing the issues at hand. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the situation at the border and called it a "broken system." He also emphasized that only Congress has the power to fix it, deflecting any responsibility from the administration.
Meanwhile, there have been rumors and calls for the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden from office, but Mayorkas strongly denied any discussions about this. He stated that he is solely focused on governing and following the president's agenda.
Last week, the House voted against impeaching Mayorkas in a surprising move, with a handful of Republicans siding with the Democrats. Mayorkas called the allegations against him "baseless" and said he is not distracted by them. He vowed to continue his work at the Department of Homeland Security, which he described as "inspiring" thanks to the hard work of the agency's 260,000 employees.
As Biden's approval rating and the country's concerns continue to shift, it remains to be seen how the administration will handle the challenges ahead. With an election on the horizon and a divided Congress, the pressure is on for the Biden administration to find solutions to the country's problems and regain the trust and approval of the American people.