Pres. Joe Biden may not approve, but nearly two-thirds of U.S. likely voters say illegal aliens should be called “illegal,” a new national Rasmussen survey reveals.
In his March 7, 2024 State of the Union address, Pres. Biden called the illegal alien charged with murdering Georgia nursing student Laken Riley an “illegal.” But, two days later in an interview, Biden said he regretted using the word “illegal” to describe the alien illegally in the country. “I shouldn’t have used ‘illegal,’ it’s ‘undocumented,’” the president said.
Biden’s White House has also begun using an even more innocuous-sounding term, “newcomers,” to describe people who illegally enter the U.S.
A majority of U.S. likely voters disagree, however, according to a national survey, conducted March 13-14 and 17, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports, following Biden’s apology.
Rasmussen asked the following question:
“Which is the best way to describe foreigners who cross the U.S. border in violation of our immigration laws?”
Fully 62% of voters said illegal aliens should be called “illegal.” “Illegal alien” was the most popular term, followed by “illegal immigrant,” then “undocumented migrant” and “asylum seeker.”
Likewise, among both Republican and Independent voters, “illegal alien” was the most popular moniker, followed by “illegal immigrant,” “undocumented migrant,” and “asylum seeker.”
For Democrat voters, however, “undocumented migrant” was the top choice.
ALL:
- Illegal Alien: 35%
- Illegal Immigrant: 27%
- Undocumented Migrant: 20%
- Asylum Seeker: 12%
- Not Sure: 7%
Republicans:
- Illegal Alien: 48%
- Illegal Immigrant: 32%
- Undocumented Migrants: 9%
- Asylum Seekers: 7%
- Not Sure: 4%
Other:
- Illegal Alien: 35%
- Illegal Immigrant: 25%
- Undocumented Migrant: 21%
- Asylum Seeker: 10%
- Not Sure: 8%
Democrats:
- Undocumented Migrant: 28%
- Illegal Alien: 22%
- Illegal Immigrant 22%
- Asylum Seeker: 17%
- Not Sure: 10%
In a separate question, the survey asked voters about the connection between illegal immigration and violent, illegal activity:
“How concerned are you that illegal immigration may contribute to the violent crime problem in America?”
Two-thirds (66%) said they are at least “somewhat” concerned, including nearly half (46%) who reported that they’re “very” concerned:
All Voters:
- 46% are “very concerned.”
- 20% are “somewhat concerned.”
- 21% are not very concerned.
- 10% are not at all concerned.
- 2% are not sure.
Eighty-eight (88%) of those who said they prefer the term “illegal” (alien or immigrant) also said they’re “very concerned” that illegal immigration may contribute to the violent crime problem in the U.S.
Conversely, 72% of those who prefer “immigrant,” “migrant,” or “asylum seeker” are “Not at All Concerned” that illegal immigration may contribute to the violent crime problem in America.