Pollster Dan Cox on Monday told Hill.TV that President Trump’s immigration agenda is only about reaching out to his Republican base, saying that the president’s moves have never been that popular overall.
“Trump’s entire immigration agenda has never been that popular, except with Republicans,” Cox told host Jamal Simmons.
“So independents, Democrats have opposed, whether it’s not allowing refugees to come, banning immigrants from majority-Muslim countries or the wall, it’s pretty much from the beginning been only about reaching out to Republicans,” he continued.
Trump launched his presidential bid in 2015 on a platform centered largely around immigration, telling supporters that immigrants were coming across the U.S. southern border and bringing crime.
He has since pushed for funding to build his long-promised border wall, along with stricter immigration policies.
Trump declared a state of emergency on the U.S. southern border last month and on Monday pressed Democrats to work with Republicans to address U.S. asylum laws quickly.
The president also targeted Mexico last week, threatening to shut down the U.S. border if the Mexican government does not do something to stem the flow of migrants.
Trump also directed the State Department to halt all aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
— Julia Manchester
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