The poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found that 49 percent of respondents believe migrants themselves are most to blame if they are injured while trying to cross the border. However, 17 percent said the federal government bears the most responsibility, while 13 percent blamed the governments in border states, such as Texas and Arizona. Just 7 percent said the Mexican government was to blame, and 14 percent said they didn’t know. The poll surveyed 1,500 eligible U.S. voters between March 23 and 24 on behalf of Newsweek.
The number of migrants being injured while trying to climb over the wall that separates Mexico and the U.S. has risen significantly since the Trump administration began replacing sections of it with 30-foot steel bollard barriers to deter illegal crossings. Earlier in March, 11 people were hurt in a single day after falling from the wall in California, and last week, a woman died after falling from the wall near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Immigration has emerged as a central issue in November’s presidential election, with President Joe Biden facing criticism for a surge in illegal crossings. Arrests for illegal crossings hit a record high in December but fell by half in January.
The poll also revealed that a majority (65 percent) agree that the U.S. is facing a migrant crisis, while 58 percent do not believe the U.S. currently has control over the U.S.-Mexico border. More than half (54 percent) said they support the construction of a wall along the southern border. Hospitals in California and Texas have reported that migrants are being treated for devastating injuries after falling from the border wall. Advocates for migrants’ rights blame the government for the rising number of injuries, attributing them to the 30-foot border wall that makes falls more likely.
Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee’s U.S./Mexico border program, stated that the 30-foot border wall increases the likelihood of sustaining life-altering injuries when falling. Masih Fouladi, executive director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, described the rise in injuries as the inevitable outcome of an immigration policy with an inhumane approach. Reports from hospitals and the Mexican government have verified the increased risk of injury and death to migrants due to the taller border walls. Twenty-nine Mexican nationals died last year while trying to cross into the San Diego region, down from 42 the previous year, with another 120 reported injured.
In conclusion, the poll findings reflect divided opinions among Americans regarding who is most to blame for migrants being injured while trying to cross into the U.S. The rise in injuries from falls off the border wall highlights the dangers faced by migrants seeking entry into the country. Immigration policies and the construction of taller border walls have been criticized for increasing the risks of injuries and deaths among migrants. Advocates for migrants’ rights stress the inhumane consequences of these policies and call for a more compassionate approach to immigration. The ongoing debates surrounding immigration issues and border security continue to be central themes in the political landscape of the U.S.
