Every year, about 1.4 million Hispanics in the U.S. become eligible to vote.

The Pew Research Center reports that Latinos have grown at the second-fastest rate of any major racial and ethnic group in the U.S. electorate since the last presidential election. An estimated 36.2 million are eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million in 2020. This represents 50% of the total growth in eligible voters during this time.

Over the past few years, stories about migration to the southern border have led to mass misinformation about how Hispanic voters view immigration and the notion of border security.

At the same time, the biggest concern and priority for Latino voters when it comes to immigration is for relief to be provided to individuals and families who have long-standing roots in this country.

Standout statistics from the poll include: 

• Providing a path to citizenship for people with long-term undocumented status (53%) and DACA recipients (42%) is the pivotal priority for Hispanic voters.
• Latino voters demanding a crackdown on human traffickers and drug smugglers at the southern border (82%) and an expansion of additional border patrol and security funding (58%).
• A prominent desire for partnering with other countries to expand opportunities for asylum seekers to seek protection elsewhere (53%), along with making it easier for newly arrived asylum seekers to obtain work permits (48%) and expanding legal pathways for people seeking safety in the US (47%).

What this means: 

• These results show that immigration will deeply impact the electoral decisions made by Latino voters, with many (78%) saying that the candidates’ positions on immigration will impact their vote for president in November.

What comes next: 

For our community: UnidosUS has always placed importance on bolstering the voting rights of our Latino/a communities. This poll shows just how critical voters see this election and the impact it could have on their families and personal livelihoods.

For the candidates: Latinos make up 1 in 5 voters this year, the second biggest voting bloc in the 2024 election. Issues such as inflation and access to good-paying jobs drive voters’ biggest concerns, but immigration and the border also top the list of what motivates our community’s decisions at the polls. Latino voters will look for candidates to address this issue with an approach that is fair, firm and free of cruelty.

“Our new poll is the first in-depth survey to examine how Latino voters actually feel about one of the most prominent and contentious issues in this election: immigration. Like other Americans, Hispanic voters are frustrated by the situation at the border and are more likely than ever to support increased border security measures.”

UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía

Go in depth: 

View the full results here

Publisher’s Notes: What do Latinos really think about the southern border? was first published by UnidosUS, and was republished with their permission.

Part of LNN’s mission is to amplify the work of others in providing greater visibility and voice to Hispanic, Latino communities.