New Poll Shows Voters Support Access to Asylum for Refugees
Washington, D.C.—As President Donald J. Trump pursues new separation and detention policies for families fleeing violence and danger in their home countries, and threatens to arm the southern border, a new poll released today shows that the majority of likely voters—up to 70%—support allowing refugees to seek asylum in the U.S.
The poll was conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) between September 29 and October 4, 2018. The survey reached 1,000 likely voters nationwide.
“This poll confirms what we have known for some time—that this administration’s policies are on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the nation,” said Michelle Brané, director of WRC’s Migrant Rights and Justice Program. “Americans agree that all human beings have human rights. This means we should not turn away people fleeing desperate situations and we should not detain families.”
Key findings include:
- 77% of those polled agree that the U.S. must protect children and families who are facing danger of violence at home;
- Two-thirds of voters oppose detaining families with children who come to the border seeking asylum; and
- Three-quarters of voters support providing case management for families seeking asylum, while a solid majority (61%) oppose requiring ankle monitors.
“Since launching its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy in April, this administration has waged a campaign of chaos with the sole purpose of deterring families from seeking safety here in the U.S. They reject policies with proven track records of success — such as family case management —and instead pursue actions that, at best, violate human rights and, at worst, break the law.”
Earlier in October, news reports revealed that the White House is considering resuming the separation of families. And in the last week, President Trump threatened to send U.S. troops to intercept a caravan of migrants fleeing Honduras and heading through Mexico for the U.S. border.
