President Biden’s approval rating dropped to 38 percent in January as Americans report growing concerns over the situation at the U.S. southern border.
A poll from Reuters/Ipsos found Biden’s approval rating 2 points down from December, when it was 40 percent. Biden has not reached above a 50 percent approval rating in Reuters/Ipsos polls since August 2021.
Seventeen percent of those polled said immigration is the most important problem facing the U.S., which is an increase from 11 percent who said the said in December. Among Republicans, 36 percent said immigration is the most important problem, and 29 percent said the economy is the most important issue.
The economy overall is still the main concern for voters, the poll found, with 22 percent of respondents saying the economy is the most important problem facing the U.S.
The growing concerns over immigration come as Republicans ramp up attacks on Biden over his handling of the border ahead of the 2024 election, which is expected to be a rematch with former President Trump.
House Republicans are trying to kill a bipartisan border bill that senators have been negotiating for weeks, while also pushing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over issues at the border, a move that Senate Democrats will likely bury until after Election Day.
The poll was conducted online Jan. 26-28 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.