It's the border, stupid: New Harvard Harris poll shows the migrant crisis is the top issue with voters - even worse than inflation that is crushing families

A new poll shows bad news for President Joe Biden, as voters continue to say that the crisis at the border is their top issue - and they don't approve of how he's handling it.

Biden's latest floated fix to the disaster is potentially expanding a program that could allow 4,000 undocumented immigrants every year to avoid deportation and obtain a green card to remain in the United States. 

He'll need to get to work on repairing the damage, as just 36 percent of Americans approve of how he's dealing with immigration, according to a Harvard Harris Poll released this week.

More importantly, more Americans say that immigration is their top issue facing the country, with 36 percent of those surveyed choosing it over inflation, which dropped to second place at 33 percent.

Unfortunately for the president, his numbers are only slightly better on that issue at 39 percent.

Inflation still tops immigration in terms of the issue affecting voters most personally, with 38 percent surveyed saying they're most personally impacted by the cost crisis. 

The economy and jobs come in third at 23 percent, with crime at 18 percent in fourth.

Biden is doing a little better on those issues, with 41 percent of Americans approving of his performance on crime and 43 percent approving of how he's handled the economy.

Overall, only 44 percent of voters approve of Biden, with 51 percent disapproving. 

That's a contrast with his opponent in November, Donald Trump, who was seen positively by 50 percent of respondents vs. 45 percent who disapprove of the former president.

Trump holds a two-point lead over Biden by a 51-49 margin in a head-to-head race, down from a six-point lead in February.

However, with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the ballot, Trump's lead increases to four points, 43 to 39 with RFK Jr. receiving 17 percent.

Notably, Kennedy pulls more votes from Democrats (17 percent) than Republicans (10 percent). 

Biden and Trump are tied at 36 percent among independents, with Kennedy getting 28 percent. 

It comes amid continued crackdowns by Republicans in Congress on the Biden administration's actions at the southern border.

The House voted last month to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for dereliction of duty and lying to the American people. And recent reports revealing that 320,000 migrants were flown by the Biden administration into U.S. cities in 2023 have only added to criticism of Biden's immigration policies.

There has been increased focus on crime committed by illegal immigrants recently as Republicans point to this being another reason why there needs to be more policies put in place to stop the flow over the southern border.

Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, 22, was abducted last month while on a run and brutally murdered on the University of Georgia campus by undocumented Venezuelan immigrant José Antonio Ibarra, 26, who was released into the U.S. after illegally crossing in September 2022.

The next month, another undocumented immigrant was arrested in Massachusetts for the rape of a 15-year-old disabled girl.