Survey reveals that more US citizens say that immigration should be the main focus of the US government in 2025. As the country prepares for the new administration of Donald Trump, issues related to border security and the deportation of undocumented immigrants are once again at the center of the political debate, reflecting the president-elect's campaign promise. Concern about immigration has intensified significantly compared to previous years, reaching majority support among Republicans and gaining ground among Democrats as well, albeit with different approaches.

According to the survey conducted by  the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, approximately half of the U.S. adult population spontaneously mentioned immigration and border as priority areas for the government, a notable increase from the previous year. The study also points out that 7 in 10 Republicans identify immigration as the top government issue, compared to 45 percent two years ago. That shift suggests a growing convergence among the Republican base around Trump's trademark anti-immigration rhetoric. Although Democrats have placed greater emphasis on the issue in 2024, only a significant minority share the same concern, demonstrating that there is an increase, but without full alignment with the stricter policies advocated by the president-elect.

Still, the economy remains the dominant issue. About three-quarters of Americans, including Republicans and Democrats, consider tackling economic problems a key government priority. Among the economic concerns, inflation, unemployment, taxes and housing costs stand out. The survey also reveals that young adults, for the most part, value the economy more than immigration, unlike older generations. Nearly 4 in 10 young people cited inflation as a critical issue, and 25% of them emphasized housing costs — a topic less relevant to older Americans.

The generational contrast in terms of priorities is also reflected in public policy expectations. Adults over 60 years of age show a specific concern with Social Security, while this issue is not a priority for younger people. Despite the common economic focus, there are notable differences in how different age groups perceive key areas of government intervention.

In terms of foreign policy, health care, and political issues, Americans continue to attach importance to these areas, although less intensely than to the issues of economics and immigration. Among Democrats, for example, health care and climate change emerge as major concerns, but neither of these issues reaches the centrality that immigration has achieved among Republicans.

The AP-NORC survey of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9 and has a margin of error of around 3.7 points.