Chasing the Base: How the Border Surge Changed Immigration Politics

Illegal immigration across the southern border has long been an issue that animates Republicans, but recent surges have made it a top concern for voters across the political spectrum. More than 100,000 migrants have come to New York City, and thousands of people are living in shelters in neighborhoods around the city while attempting to obtain legal status. The presence of these newcomers made immigration the top issue there in a recent special election for Congress. The winner, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, won by talking about border security, and his party-mates hope he has cracked the code for parrying GOP attacks on the issue. For the last installment of “Chasing the Base,” WSJ political reporter Jimmy Vielkind travels to Queens and Long Island to speak with officials and voters about how immigration has become an issue in places far from the southern border.

Listen to previous episodes of “Chasing the Base” here.

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