(AURN News) – There is now a shift in public opinion according to a recent Monmouth University poll, with 53% of Americans expressing a desire to build a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The poll, conducted independently by the Monmouth University Polling Institute, also sheds light on the prevailing sentiment towards illegal immigration. A staggering 8 in 10 Americans now perceive illegal immigration as a very serious or somewhat serious problem.

Patrick Murray, director of the institute, emphasized the significance of the immigration issue in the upcoming presidential election. “Illegal immigration has taken center stage as a defining issue this presidential election year,” he said in a statement.

A majority of respondents, 61%, voiced support for the notion that individuals seeking asylum should be required to remain in Mexico during the claims processing period. In contrast, only 35% favored allowing them into the U.S. while awaiting the outcome of their asylum requests.

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