One of the main issues shaping the 2026 midterm elections and the approach to the 2028 presidential election will undoubtedly be immigration—specifically, the challenge of illegal immigration and how to effectively manage it. In 2024, President Donald Trump was reelected on the promise of mass deportations for illegal immigrants whom the Biden administration had welcomed into the country. While Democrats may talk about “immigration reform,” a recent poll indicates that many see through their rhetoric and understand their true intentions.
A new Harvard Harris Poll, which surveyed 2,009 registered voters, reveals what many Americans have long suspected: a significant majority of Republicans, independents, and even some Democrats believe that the Democratic Party advocates for open borders. This finding feels like a “Well, duh” moment, and it’s now backed by solid evidence.
According to a recent survey, 56 percent of respondents believe that Democrats want an open southern border, while 44 percent disagree. When analyzing responses by party affiliation, 63 percent of Republicans, 52 percent of independents, and 51 percent of Democrats agreed that having open borders is a goal of the Democratic Party.
As the midterm elections approach, Democrats seem to be ignoring public sentiment on yet another wildly popular issue: Border security. The poll indicates that 77 percent of those surveyed favor deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and 54 percent support deporting all illegal immigrants. It appears that Democrats are aligning themselves more with illegal immigrants rather than with the interests of American citizens, as Senate Democrats continue to block funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They are also relying on the media to portray the GOP in a negative light, as has often been the case.
That part appears to be effective. The poll indicated that 35 percent support a partial shutdown, while 53 percent blame Republicans and 47 percent blame Democrats.
Republicans and conservatives have long claimed that the significant increase in illegal immigration during the Biden administration is related to the Democrats’ dwindling support among their traditional voting blocs, such as Black and Hispanic voters. They argue that Democrats are attempting to replace these voters, hoping that, at some point, these illegal immigrants will become legal citizens. This raises the question: why else are Democrats so consistently opposed to deportations? They seem to show little concern for the victims of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants, such as Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and the most recent victim, Sheridan Gorman. Recently, Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) called for “reparations” for illegal immigrants who have been “traumatized” by American law enforcement.
Democrats are more concerned about their survival after the midterms than about understanding the current political climate regarding their border preferences for the midterms.