NBC poll finds voters trust Republicans more on immigration, border and tie with Dems on economy

WASHINGTON,DC: A new national poll from NBC News suggests voters continue to trust Republicans more than Democrats on several major issues heading into the next election cycle, including immigration and border security.

The survey results released on Sunday, March 8, also found that voters view the parties as essentially tied on handling the economy— a result that could bolster allies of Donald Trump as debate intensifies over economic policy.

The survey was conducted from February 27 through March 3 among 1,000 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Republicans hold strong edge on immigration and crime

According to the poll, Republicans hold a double-digit advantage when voters were asked which party they trust more to handle immigration policy.

The GOP leads Democrats by 12 points on immigration, 22 points on crime and 27 points on border security, highlighting the continued political strength of those issues for Trump and his party.

Border enforcement in particular has long been a central theme of Trump’s political agenda, and the poll indicates voters still view Republicans as more capable of managing the issue.

The survey also found signs of support for Trump’s focus on concerns about illegal voting as he attempts to make election integrity a key campaign issue.

The poll found Trump’s overall job approval rating at 44 percent among registered voters, roughly unchanged from the 43 percent recorded in NBC’s October survey.

While the numbers remain polarized, the stability suggests Trump’s support has held firm despite months of intense political debate.

Views on immigration remain mixed

Public attitudes toward immigration continue to shift under Trump.

In the latest poll, 60% of voters said immigration helps the United States more than it hurts, while 32% said it causes more harm than benefit.

That marks a notable change from just before the 2024 election, when opinion was more divided: 50% said immigration helped the country, while 43% believed it did more harm.

The results suggest immigration will remain a complex political issue heading into future campaigns even as Republicans maintain a clear advantage on how voters think the issue should be handled.

GOP advantage narrows slightly since fall

Although Republicans maintain a clear lead on several issues, the poll indicates their margins have narrowed somewhat compared with NBC’s previous survey in October.

At that time, Republicans held a 31-point advantage on border security and an 18-point advantage on immigration. In the latest poll, those leads declined to 27 points and 12 points, respectively.

Even with the slight shift, Republicans still maintain a significant advantage over Democrats on issues tied to crime and border policy.

The poll also highlights the issues most prominent in voters’ minds as they look ahead to upcoming elections.

Inflation and the cost of living tied with threats to democracy as the most frequently cited concerns, each named by 26 percent of respondents as the country’s most pressing issue.

Another 13 percent selected immigration and border security, while 11 percent said jobs and the broader economy were the most important issue.