Only 30% of Americans Agree with Obama that Border Is Secure

By Jon Feere and Jon Feere on May 15, 2011

According to a new Rasmussen Reports survey only 30 percent of likely voters think the U.S.-Mexico border is even "somewhat secure," while 64 percent disagree and say it is "not very secure." Twenty-nine percent of voters believe the border is "not at all secure." Only three percent said it is "very secure."

When broken down by political affiliation, 86 percent of Republican voters and 65 percent of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties do not believe the border is secure. When it comes to Democratic voters, 51 percent say the border is secure, though the slim majority is within the survey's margin of error.

Despite the fact that the American public overwhelmingly understands the U.S.-Mexico border to be porous, President Obama seems to believe the borders are sufficiently secure. Obama's recent speech in El Paso indicates that the president views border security as more of a political issue than one of national security. From the administration's perspective, border security is something discussed grudgingly, and only as part of an effort aimed at granting amnesty to millions of foreigners who have violated U.S. law. The president's framing of the issue, along with the disturbing audience reaction, is worth reading (as excerpted from the official White House transcript):


THE PRESIDENT: Then they wanted a fence. Well, the fence is --

AUDIENCE: Booo!

THE PRESIDENT: The fence is now basically complete.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Tear it down!

THE PRESIDENT: Then we've gone further. We tripled the number of intelligence analysts working at the border. I've deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the skies from Texas to California. We have forged a partnership with Mexico to fight the transnational criminal organizations that have affected both of our countries. (Applause.) And for the first time -- for the first time we're screening 100 percent of southbound rail shipments to seize guns and money going south even as we go after drugs that are coming north. (Applause.)

So, here's the point. I want everybody to listen carefully to this. We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement. All the stuff they asked for, we've done. But even though we've answered these concerns, I've got to say I suspect there are still going to be some who are trying to move the goal posts on us one more time.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: They're racist!

Note that President Obama says that "they" wanted a fence. He, it seems, does not. Unfortunately, he fails to realize that those wanting a fence are not just congressional Republicans, but rather a majority of the public — 68 percent of Americans at last count.

When Obama says the border is "basically complete" he either has not studied the issue long enough or is well-aware that illegal aliens continue to cross the border with ease and simply hopes Americans are not paying attention. Either way, the administration is clearly indicating that it's done with border security.

On immigration enforcement, the Obama administration continues to have a significant credibility gap.