This week, Townhall reported how New York Democrats have complained that the illegal immigration crisis has “unjustly” burdened the state and specifically New York City. Since last year, Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott has sent migrants on buses from the border to left-wing “sanctuary” cities like NYC, Washington D.C. and Chicago to “share the burden” of the crisis.
According to figures from a Siena College Poll released this week, more than 80 percent of voters in New York state say that the influx of illegal immigrants is a “serious problem.”
Broken down, 54 percent said that it is a “very serious” problem ,while 28 percent said it is “somewhat serious.”
By political party, 47 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans, and 52 percent of Independents/others said the migrant crisis in New York is “very serious.” Thirty percent of Democrats, 16 percent of Republicans, and 32 percent of Independents/others said the situation is “somewhat serious.”
“New Yorkers — including huge majorities of Democrats, Republicans, independents, upstaters and downstaters — overwhelmingly say that the recent influx of migrants to New York is a serious problem for the state,” poll spokesperson Steven Greenberg said in a statement to Politico.
In a follow-up question, 58 percent of respondents said that “New Yorkers have already done enough for new migrants and should now work to slow the flow of migrants to New York.”
"More than three-quarters of Republicans and 60% of independents say New Yorkers have done enough and must now slow the flow of migrants to the state, rather than accept and help assimilate them into New York, while Democrats are evenly divided," Siena pollster Greenberg told Fox5 New York.
In addition, 32 percent of respondents said that looking back over the past 20 years, migrants resettling in New York has been more of a benefit than a burden. On the other hand, 46 percent said they feel it has been a burden.
Fifty percent of respondents in the survey said they have an “unfavorable” opinion of President Joe Biden, compared to 46 percent who said they have a favorable opinion of him. As for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, 46 percent said they have an “unfavorable” opinion of her compared to 40 percent who said they have a “favorable” opinion of her.
On the migrant crisis issue, specifically, only 31 percent of respondents said they approve of how New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is handling the migrant influx. This includes 10 percent who “strongly approve” and 21 percent who “somewhat approve.”
On the other hand, 47 percent of respondents “strongly disapprove” (30 percent) or “somewhat disapprove” (17 percent) of Adams’ handling of the migrant influx issue.
When asked about Hochul’s handling of the migrant crisis, 35 percent of respondents either "strongly" approve (11 percent) or "somewhat" approve (24 percent) of her handling of the crisis. Fifty-one percent disapprove.
When asked about the Biden administration’s handling of the migrants coming to New York, 34 percent approve and 59 percent disapprove.
Siena College polled 803 registered voters from Aug. 13 to 16 and included a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.