Mothers' Views on the Secure the Border Act (S.2824)
January 31, 2024
Rapid Poll

In January 2024, Count on Mothers examined mothers' views on the Secure the Border Act (S.2824), federal legislation addressing border security, asylum procedures, and immigration enforcement. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the survey captured firsthand perspectives on the bill's security measures, technology investments, and provisions affecting children. Mothers expressed mixed overall views on the legislation, with strong support for specific security and technology provisions and more divided opinion on enforcement provisions, alongside clear ideological patterns in how mothers approached the bill's components.

Related themes:
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    • 80% of mothers support real-time access to international criminal history databases for U.S. border background checks — the highest-agreement component of the bill.
    • 73% of mothers support improvements to border technology and staffing.
    • 60% of mothers believe the Secure the Border Act would have a positive overall impact on the safety, health, or well-being of children and families. 23% were unsure; 17% disagreed.
    • Provisions affecting unaccompanied children received the lowest support. Mothers were closely divided on the bill's provision for the removal of unaccompanied children who are not trafficking victims and do not fear return — supported by 51% overall, with substantial divergence across political ideology.
    • Clear ideological patterns emerged across the bill's components. Conservative and very conservative mothers largely supported all provisions; liberal and very liberal mothers were more divided. Moderate mothers showed higher levels of uncertainty across most provisions.

Source: Count on Mothers, Mothers' Views on the Secure the Border Act (S.2824), January 2024. Nationally representative survey of U.S. mothers, n=785, weighted across political ideology and region. Research led by a PhD-credentialed researcher.

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Methodology

Count on Mothers conducts nationally representative research with U.S. mothers, weighted to reflect the population and reported in aggregate. Research is led by a PhD + MPH team. Findings have informed policy, industry, and media, and entered the Congressional Record on childcare, paid leave, and technology policy.
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